The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

s or

subshrub A subshrub (Latin ''suffrutex'') or dwarf shrub is a short shrub, and is a woody plant. Prostrate shrub is a related term. "Subshrub" is often used interchangeably with "bush".Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon; A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Der ...

s, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be

monoecious Monoecy (; adj. monoecious ) is a sexual system in seed plants where separate male and female cones or flowers are present on the same plant. It is a monomorphic sexual system alongside gynomonoecy, andromonoecy and trimonoecy. Monoecy is conne ...

dioecious Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproductio ...

. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

Taxonomy

In a 2006 revision of the Phyllanthaceae, it was recommended that ''Sauropus'' be subsumed in ''Phyllanthus''; however, new combinations in ''Phyllanthus'' for former ''Sauropus'' species remain to be published.

Description

''Sauropus'' species have alternate, entire leaves with short petioles and small stipules. Flowers appear at axils and mainly form clusters. There are 6 perianth segments divided in 2 whorls, with female flowers often having bigger perianths. At male flowers, the perianth is tube-like, with 3

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

. The fruit is berry-like, ovoid or globose, and fleshy.

Species include

*''

Sauropus albiflorus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus amabilis The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus amoebiflorous The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *'' Sauropus androgynus'' - star gooseberry, katuk *''

Sauropus arenosus ''Sauropus arenosus'' is a plant in the family Phyllanthaceae, native to Western Australia and the Northern Territory.Sauropus assimilis ''Sauropus assimilis'' is an extremely rare species of plant in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is a tree growing in wet evergreen forests in lowlands. Endemic to southwestern Sri Lanka, and only known from the Sinharaja Biosphere Reserve there, e ...

'' *''

Sauropus asteranthos The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus bacciformis The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus bicolor The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus brevipes The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Au ...

'' *''

Sauropus brunonis The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus convollerioides The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus crassifolius The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family (biology), family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Ma ...

'' *''

Sauropus discocalyx The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus ditassoides The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus garrettii The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Au ...

'' *''

Sauropus glaucus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Au ...

'' *''

Sauropus gracilis The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus granulosus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus heteroblastus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Au ...

'' *''

Sauropus hirsutus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus hirtellus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus kerrii The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus macranthus ''Sauropus macranthus'', commonly known as pumpkin fruit, pumpkin bush or Atherton sauropus, is a rainforest tree from Asia, Malesia and north-east Queensland. It is listed as "vulnerable" under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Bio ...

'' *''

Sauropus ochrophyllus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus orbicularis The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus pauciflorus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Au ...

'' *''

Sauropus poomae The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *'' Sauropus pulchellus'' *''

Sauropus quadrangularis The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus ramosissimus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus rimaphilus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Au ...

'' *''

Sauropus rhamnoides The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus rhytidospermus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus rigens The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus rostatus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus similis The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Au ...

'' *''

Sauropus spatulifolius The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus suberosus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Au ...

'' *''

Sauropus subterblancus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus thorelii The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *''

Sauropus thyrsiflorus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

'' *'' Sauropus trachyspermus'' *''

Sauropus villosus The genus ''Sauropus'', of the family Phyllanthaceae, comprises about 40 species of herbs, shrubs or subshrubs, sometimes with woody bases. These plants can be monoecious or dioecious. They are distributed in Southeast Asia, Malesia and Australi ...

Formerly placed here

Sauropus elegantissimus ''Breynia retusa'' is a species of plant in the family Phyllanthaceae. Distribution It grows naturally in Bangladesh, China, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia (peninsular), Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Réunion where it ...

'' has become ''

Breynia retusa ''Breynia retusa'' is a species of plant in the family Phyllanthaceae. Distribution It grows naturally in Bangladesh, China, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia (peninsular), Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam and Réunion where it ...

''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5223395 Malpighiales genera