Glochidion jarawae

Glochidion jarawae Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr., J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 26: 527 2002. (syn: Phyllanthus jarawae (Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr.) Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr.);

Distrib. India: Coastal forests on sandy loam; Andaman & Nicobar Islands (South Andaman Island, in Jarawa Reserve). Scarce as per BSI Flora of India;

S. Andaman Is. as per WCSP;

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Glochidion jarawae (Phyllanthaceae) from South Andaman Island : 7 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (1)
Though slightly out of focus, this is the only field photograph available so far of the species Glochidion jarawae Chakrab. & N.P. Balakr. photographed by me from a coastal forest deep inside the Jarawa Reserve at Tirur area  of South Andaman Island. The clavate style of the female flowers clearly distinguishes the species from its immediate allies such as G. andamanicum and G. calocarpum.

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WCSP (Kew) shows it as Phyllanthus jarawae (Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr.) Chakrab. & N.P.Balakr., J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 33: 713 (2009).

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Well, Glochidion J.R. Forst. & G.Forst. is a distinct genus of the family Phyllanthaceae as per the current usage and it is closely related to Phyllanthus L., differing in the absence of the disc glands in the flowers.  There have been proposals to merge the genera Glochidion, Sauropus and Breynia under Phyllanthus. However, it has also be suggested that if such a merger is done, Phyllanthus will become a mega-genus and the situation will then become highly complicated from the taxonomic point of view.  Unless further studies are made leading on to more convincing interpretations, it seems appropriate to treat Glochidion as a distinct genus for the present.  Hence the species under consideration here should be maintained under the genus Glochidion as the disc glands are absent in the flowers.

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References:
POWO  The Plant List Ver.1.1  Catalogue of Life  WCSP  IPNI  BSI Flora of India