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Phyllanthus calycinus facts for kids

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Phyllanthus calycinus
Phyllanthus calycinus.jpg
Phyllanthus calycinus - 48651093506.jpg
Scientific classification
Genus:
Phyllanthus
Species:
calycinus
Phyllanthus calycinus DistMap1.png
Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium
Synonyms
List of synonyms

Clutia berberifolia Pax
Diasperus calycinus (Labill.) Kuntze
Diasperus cygnorum (Endl.) Kuntze
Phyllanthus calycinus var. genuinus Müll.Arg.
Phyllanthus calycinus var. obovatus Müll.Arg.
Phyllanthus calycinus var. parviflora Benth.
Phyllanthus cygnorum Endl.
Phyllanthus cygnorum var. genuinus Müll.Arg.
Phyllanthus pimeleoides A.DC.
Phyllanthus preissianus Klotzsch
Phyllanthus preissianus var. pimeleoides (A.DC.) Müll.Arg.
Phyllanthus pulchellus Endl.

Phyllanthus calycinus, known as false boronia and snowdrop spurge, is a small shrub in the family Phyllanthaceae, which grows to heights from 20 cm to 1.2 m, often on sandy soils. It is found in both Western Australia and South Australia. In Western Australia its white-cream to pink flowers may be seen from June to January, and in South Australia, from May to October.

Description

From the key given in Hunter and Bruhl (1997), the following partial description (differentiating it from other Western Australian Phyllanthus species) is derived: The leaves are normal but sometimes reduced. The plant is monoecious. The branchlets are smooth. The sepals of the female flower enlarge to enclose the fruit, which is from 3 to 5.2 mm by 5 to 6 mm, and encases seed which is from 2.5-3.9 mm by 1-8-2.5 mm.

Taxonomy and naming

It was first described in 1806 by Labillardière. The specific epithet, calycinus, is Latin meaning "with a well developed calyx".

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