| Otaheite Gooseberry | |
| Phyllanthus acidus | |
| a.k.a. Malay Gooseberry |
Small white to slightly yellow colored fruit borne in great abundance, with a crunchy, juicy, acidic flavored pulp.
Description: A shrub or tree growing anywhere from 5-30ft in
height.
Hardiness: The Otaheite Gooseberry is tropical or subtropical and can take several
degrees of frost for brief periods of time.
Growing Environment: The trees generally prefer
moist soil. There are often two fruiting cycles per year and depending
on the climate, trees may produce off and on throughout the year.
Propagation: By seed, which may bear in 4 years, or by
budding, greenwood cuttings, and air-layering.
Uses: Often the fruit is cooked with sugar, upon which the pulp and juice turns bright red. Common uses for the resulting fruit mixture are to prepare beverages or use as a sauce.
Native Range: Native to Madagascar, but was spread long ago by humans throughout much of India, southeast Asia, and some Pacific islands.