Star Gooseberry Fruit plant (Phyllanthus acidus)

Common Name: Otaheite gooseberry, Malay gooseberry, Tahitian gooseberry, country gooseberry, star gooseberry, starberry, arbari, West India gooseberry.

Botanical Name: Phyllanthus Acidus

General Information:

Deciduous tree with an open, sparingly branched, spreading crown. Can grow about 6 - 9 meters tall. Grows well in the tropics at low and medium altitudes with a short or prolonged dry season.

Occasionally cultivated as a garden plant for its fruit and ornamental value.  Mature fruits are acidic, rich in vitamin C, and often sprinkled with salt to neutralize acidity.

Used in relishes, chutneys, or cooked as a flavoring in desserts. Fruits can be eaten raw or cooked.

Fruit Characteristics:

Small ribbed fruits measuring about 2.5 cm in diameter. Yellow-white with a matte appearance. The section shows a six-pointed star, hence the name "star gooseberry." Juicy pulp of firm consistency, very acidic.

Culinary and Medicinal Uses:

In India, the fruit is taken as a liver tonic to enrich the blood. The syrup is prescribed as a stomachic medicine.

Seeds are cathartic. Leaves, with added pepper, are used as a poultice on sciatica, lumbago, or rheumatism.

Cultivation Details:

Bloom Time/Fruiting: 2 to 3 Years

Maintenance Required: Moderate