Cermai

Common name: Star Gooseberry, Malay Gooseberry, Otaheite Gooseberry

Malay name: Cermai

Scientific name: Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels

Conservation status: Cultivated, Naturalised, Introduced (Brazil)

Description

A shrub or small tree of 2-9 m tall. Leaves are egg-shaped and alternately arranged. Flowers are arranged in long clusters. Fruits are round, lobed, pale yellow when ripe.

Habit: Perennial tree

Cultivation: It is planted by seeds, buddings, greenwood cuttings or air-layering

Ecological function: The flowers of this tree attract pollinators. It is a caterpillar food plant.

Pollinator: Bees

Soil: Fertile loamy soils

Moisture: Moist, well-drained soils

Shade: No shade, part day shade

Use: This tree is planted as an ornamental plant. The fruits and young leaves of this tree are edible. Its bark is used as a tanning agent in India.