Phyllanthus puber is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Phyllanthaceae. It is native to China, where it is widely distributed in both subtropical and temperate regions (Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Zhejiang provinces and Tibet and Guangxi autonomous regions). It has also been reported from Taiwan and Japan, and is morphologically very similar to the species Glochidion chodoense, endemic to southern South Korea.Hwang, H.-S.; et al. (2013) "Distributional Characteristics of Plants in Hajo Island of Jeollanam-do, South Korea." Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity. 6: 435–448. In Mandarin it is known as 算盘子 (suanpanzi), which also refers to the genera Glochidion and Phyllanthus as a whole. In China it is used for medicinal purposes.
This species has become naturalized at several locations in Alabama in the United States.Fearn, M. L.; Urbatsch, L. E. (2001) "Glochidion puberum (Euphorbiaceae) naturalized in southern Alabama." SIDA, Contributions to Botany. 19: 711–714.
The species was first described as Agyneia pubera by Carl Linnaeus in 1771. In 1865 Johannes Müller Argoviensis placed the species in genus Phyllanthus as P. puber.
References