Phyllanthus urinaria

Phyllanthus urinaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Phyllanthaceae
Tribe:	Phyllantheae
Subtribe:	Flueggeinae
Genus:	Phyllanthus
Species:	P. urinaria
Binomial name
Phyllanthus urinaria L.

Phyllanthus urinaria, commonly called chamberbitter, gripeweed, shatterstone, stonebreaker or leafflower, is a herb species in the family Phyllanthaceae.

Plant description

The plant, reaching around 2 feet, has small alternate leaves resembling those of the mimosa tree, disposed in two ranges. The leaves are large at the tip and smaller towards the petiole. When touched, the leaves fold in automatically. Flowers are greenish white, minute and appear at axiles of the leaves, as well as the seed capsules. Numerous small green-red fruits, round and smooth, are found along the underside of the stems, which are erect and red.

This plant is considered a competitive weed in some regions, because of its great number of seeds, its high shade tolerance and its extensive root system.

Distribution

Although of Asian origin, the weed is widely found in all tropical regions of the world. In the United States, it is found in southern states such as Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, New Mexico or Texas.It is a warm-season, annual, broadleaf weed that emerges from warm soils beginning in early summer. It reproduces by seeds, which are found in the green, warty-like fruit attached to the underside of the branch

Germination

The plant is a summer annual and germinates from early summer to early fall, requiring warm soil. Little more is known about the biological activity of this species.