Phyllanthus myrtitelius (Mousetail Plant, Myrtle-leaved Leaf Flower, Ceylon Myrtle)
Botanical Information
| Family | Phyllanthaceae |
| Genus | Phyllanthus |
| Species | myrtitelius |
| Category | Tropicals |
| Type | Shrub (evergreen) |
| Origin | Native to Sri Lanka. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | Plant is grown as a medicinal plant in China. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 10a - 11 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H3 - H1c |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | (-1.1) to above 4.5 |
| Temperature (°F) | 30 - 40 |
| Height | 50 cm |
| Flowering Period | May, June, July, August |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | A small shrub about 50 cm tall with tiny inverted-lance shaped leaves and small, slender, pendulous red flowers |
| Landscape | Flowerbeds, borders, bonsai, and it can be grown over a wall to form a dense, attractive weeping hedge. It can also be grown along the edge of freshwater bodies. |
| Cultivation | Grows well in full sun to partial shade. Plant requires consistently moist soil. |
| Notable Specimens | Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America. |
| Habitat | |
| Bark/Stem Description | Thin, flexible stems droop gracefully downwards. Stems are vigoursly branched, forming a dense crown. |
| Leaf Description | Small, lanceolate to oblong leaves are light green and are alternate in arrangement. They are held in the same plane in 2 files along the stem. |
| Flower Description | Flowers borne in several-flowered fascicles in leaf axils. Flowers are typically longer than the leaves and hang down by slender, red filament-like stalks, ending in a roundish bowl-like flower. |
| Fruit Description | Small fruit are round and slightly flattened, 2 mm long, and 3 mm wide. |
Photographs
Phyllanthus myrtitelius, form, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.
Phyllanthus myrtitelius, leaf, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.
Phyllanthus myrtitelius, leaf, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.