Phyllanthaceae

The Phyllanthaceae is a family of flowering plants that includes herbs, shrubs, and trees, with a significant presence in tropical and warm temperate regions. This family, formerly part of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae), is characterized by its members often having finely cracking bark and two-ranked leaves without glands. A notable genus within Phyllanthaceae is Phyllanthus, which comprises around 1,300 species and includes plants with unique adaptations, such as flattened stems that function as leaves. Some species in this genus, like the Otaheite gooseberry (P. acidus), produce edible fruits used for preserves, while the emblic (P. emblica) yields fruits used in traditional Indian medicine and for tanning.12