Phyllanthus acidus aka Indian Gooseberry

Phyllanthus acidus is a small tree in the Phyllanthaceae family. People call it gooseberry tree or Otaheite gooseberry. Sources differ on where it first grew. Kew lists Pará, Brazil. Useful Tropical Plants gives northeastern Brazil. Missouri Botanical Garden suggests it came from Madagascar. People have grown it for thousands of years. It now grows in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. It grows in coastal forests and woods on limestone. It also grows on disturbed ground.

The tree grows fast and sheds its leaves. It reaches about 20–30 feet [6–9.14 metres] tall. Its spreading crown can reach 20 feet [6.1 metres] wide. Sources describe both open crowns and dense groups of branches. A short trunk holds up the crown. Leaves range from oval to the shape of a lance. They reach 0.25 feet [0.076 metres] long. A blue-green bloom coats the undersides of the leaves. Leaves grow in opposite pairs on small branches called branchlets. These branchlets form groups near the shoot tips. The tree sheds both its branchlets and its leaves.

Small, pale pink flowers grow in groups. Bees pollinate them. The fruit gives the tree much of its garden value. Each fruit is about 0.066 feet [0.02 metres] across. It turns yellow when ripe and red when cooked. The flesh tastes very sour and has vitamin C. People eat the fruit raw, at times with salt. They also pickle or candy it. Other uses include jams, chutneys, and a tart taste in desserts. The fruit can take the place of tamarind. People cook the mild leaves as a vegetable. The leaves are fibrous.

Grow this tree in full sun for best results. It also accepts shade for part of the day. It likes moist soil that drains well but withstands drought. It accepts a broad range of other soil traits. Hot, humid tropical lowlands suit it well. Missouri Botanical Garden lists USDA zones 10–12. It also notes the tree needs little upkeep. Seeds sprout with ease, so they help growers raise new plants. Growers also use cuttings and air layering to raise trees.

Snowbush spanworms eat the leaves. These pests also go by the name Breynia caterpillars. The root bark holds mildly poisonous juice. Edible fruit does not mean every part is safe. Traditional remedies use the roots, leaves, bark, latex, and fruit. These uses do not prove that treatment is safe or works. Beyond food, people use the bark for tanning. They use the wood for small objects, utensils, and fuel.