Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels

Trees, monoecious, 20–100 dm; branching phyllanthoid. Stems: main stems and ultimate branchlets terete, not winged, glabrous. Leaves on main stems deciduous, spiral, scalelike; stipules not auriculate, dark brown. Leaves on ultimate branchlets deciduous with branchlets, distichous, well developed; stipules not auriculate, dark brown; blade broadly ovate to ovate-lanceolate, (40–)50–90 × (20–)25–45 mm, base obtuse or rounded, apex acute, both surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences cymules on leafless short shoots, on old wood bisexual with 1–9 pistillate flowers and 25–40 staminate flowers, on new growth bisexual on proximal shoots with 1–2 pistillate flowers and 8–12 staminate flowers, staminate on distal shoots with 8–12 flowers. Pedicels: staminate 1.5–3 mm, pistillate spreading in fruit, 2.3–5(–6) mm. Staminate flowers: sepals 4, reddish purple with pink to white margins, flat, 1.1–1.4(–1.5) mm; nectary extrastaminal, 4 glands; stamens (3–)4, filaments distinct. Pistillate flowers: sepals 4, green to reddish purple with pink to white margins, flat, (1–)1.2–1.4 mm, 1-veined; nectary annular, 4-lobed. Drupes greenish yellow to white, (12–)15–20(–25) mm diam., smooth. Seeds uniformly brown, 3.3–3.5 mm, smooth. 2n = 26 (West Indies).

They are a tropical plant. It can grow in the hot humid tropical lowlands. They suit areas with a seasonal dry period. In Nepal it grows up to 250 m altitude. They are widely distributed near towns and sometimes cultivated for the edible fruit. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

The fruit is used cooked in preserves and pies. They are too sour to be eaten fresh. They are good for processing into pickles. They are used as a tamarind substitute to sour dishes. The leaves are eaten as a vegetable. They are also used in chutney.

Trees can be grown from seed. Trees can be grown by cleft grafting. They can also be grown from cuttings and air layering.