Within the morphologically diverse pantropical genus Phyllanthus, many subgenera, sections and subsectionsare recognized. While most taxonomic revisions often focus on local floras, closely related... Show moreWithin the morphologically diverse pantropical genus Phyllanthus, many subgenera, sections and subsectionsare recognized. While most taxonomic revisions often focus on local floras, closely related and often resemblingspecies are not always treated in full. Subgenus Macraea is here revised for the first time over its wholedistribution, including an identification key and descriptions of its species with distributions, ecology, uses andvernacular names. The currently acknowledged varieties of Phyllanthus distichus are rejected due to inadequatemorphological differences. Phyllanthus panayensis is synonymized with P. lancifolius. Phyllanthus alpestris hasnow become a variety of P. glaucophyllus because of the resemblance in morphology and distribution. The species complex around Phyllanthus virgatus remains taxonomically difficult, but Phyllanthus virgatus var. gardnerianus and Phyllanthus virgatus var. hirtellus are here recognized on the species level as P. gardnerianus, stat nov. and P. tararae, stat & nom. nov. A new species from the Philippines, Phyllanthus ridsdalei, is described. Show less
