Leaf

Verwijs, J. I. M., Bouman, R. W. & Welzen, P. C. van, 2019, A taxonomic revision of Phyllanthus subgenus Macraea (Phyllanthaceae), Blumea 64 (3), pp. 231-252 : 240

1. Leaf blade discolorous. Staminate flowers 2‒5 together; disc glands bell-shaped, 0.2‒0.3 mm high. Pistillate pedicels c. 6 mm long. Fruits 6‒8 mm diam...... b. var. alpestris a. var. glaucophyllus

Phyllanthus glaucophyllus Sond. var. glaucophyllus .

Subshrubs, 5‒30 cm high; branches winged, glabrous, greyish green; internodes 3‒6 mm long. Stipules 1.5‒2 by c. 1 mm, base auriculate. Leaves: petiole c. 1 mm long; blade 7‒20 by 4‒18 mm, 1.1‒2.5 times longer than wide, concolorous, pale grey-green when dry, base often slightly asymmetrical, cordate, margin thickened, flat, apex acute, obtuse or rounded, minutely mucronate; midrib flat above, prominent underneath, lateral veins 5‒7 per side, prominent on both sides, shiny underneath. Staminate flowers solitary, c. 2 mm diam; pedicel c. 4 mm long; sepals obovate, c. 1 by 0.5 mm, white; disc glands circular, flat, c. 0.2 mm diam; stamens c. 0.5 mm long, thecae c. 0.3 mm long. Pistillate pedicel 8‒10 mm long, glabrous; sepals ovate, 1‒1.5 by c. 1 mm, white, apex acute or obtuse; disc c. 1.5 mm diam; ovary c. 1 mm diam, c. 0.5 mm high; stigmas bifid for 2/3 of the length. Fruits 3‒4 mm diam; pedicel 8‒12 mm long; columella c. 1 mm long. Seeds not seen.

Distribution — Southern half of Africa.

Habitat & Ecology — In woodland, and grassy places in forests ( Sonder 1850). Altitude: c. 250 m. Flowering and fruiting: unknown.