Tahitian Gooseberry Tree (Phyllanthus acidus)

Features and Characteristics

Phyllanthus acidus, commonly called Tahitian gooseberry tree or Otaheite gooseberry, is a small deciduous tree found in moist tropical and subtropical coastal woodlands and disturbed sites. Evidence suggests this species originated in Madagascar but has been cultivated for thousands of years and is now found throughout the tropics and subtropics. Mature trees will reach up to 30′ tall with a 20′ wide, densely-branched, spreading canopy. The ovate to lanceolate leaves (up to 3″ long) have a blue-green bloom on their lower surfaces and are oppositely arranged on terminal clusters of branchlets (up to 12″ long). Both the leaves and branchlets are deciduous. Clusters of small, light pink flowers are held in panicles (up to 5″ long) that hang directly from the main branches. The edible fruits (up to 1″ in diameter) are creamy-white to light yellow-green in color with firm, sour flesh surrounding a hard center stone.

Genus name comes from the Greek words phyllon meaning “leaf”, and anthos meaning “flower”, as in some species the flowers are produced on the edges of a leaf-like branch.

The specific epithet acidus means “acidic”, in reference to the sharp acidity of the fruits.

The common name gooseberry refers to the acidity of the fruits, which is similar to European gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa).