Phyllanthus saxosus
F.Muell.Dioecious shrub to 2 m high; branchlets glabrous but commonly pustulate. Leaves obovate, obtriangular, or deltoid, 5.7–24 mm long, 4.5–16.5 mm wide, rounded to emarginate, mucronate, glabrous but prominently pustulate and glittery, paler below; stipules c. ovate, to 3.5 mm long, red-brown or black; petioles to 2 mm long. Male flowers 2–10 per axil; pedicels 1–4 mm long; sepals 0.9–2 mm long, yellow; disc 0.6–1.3 mm wide; stamen filaments free or connate to half their length, 0.2–0.7 mm long. Female flowers solitary; pedicels at anthesis 2–5 mm long, in fruit 2.5–8.5 mm long; sepals 0.6–2.8 mm long, green, often lobed; disc 0.9–1.6 mm wide; styles undivided, 1.2–2.4 mm long; ovary 0.6–1.3 mm long; Capsule transversely ellipsoid, apically depressed, 2.6–3 mm long, 4.2–4.7 mm wide. Seeds pallid-brown or red-brown, 2.1–2.3 mm long, striate. Flowers Mar.–Dec.
OtP, GGr. Also WA, SA. Extremely rare in Victoria, known only from Mt Arapiles (but see note below). Historic records from Mt William and near Geelong have not been substantiated by recent collections.
This species is very similar to P. gunnii, and may be included within this species after further research. Further to the characters given in the key, this species can be distinguished from the P. gunnii by its distinctive pustulate appearance. However, many specimens at MEL cannot be readily assigned to either species. This pustulate or blistering character is either not always eveident on dired specimens or is also inconsistent.
Hunter, J.T.; Bruhl, J.J. (1999). Phyllanthus. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae, pp. 74–78. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Spinning