Common Names: Rock Bush, Hard Head Bush, Abraham Bush, Sword Bush, Scipio Bush
Family: Euphorbiaceae
Habit: Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus grows as a small to medium size shrub up to 2 m in height. There are no leaves and the branches are modified into phyllodia (photosynthetic leaf like branches). The phyllodia are arranged distichously and are lanceolate to oblanceolate with a curved shape with a serrate/notched margin.
Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus is monoecious with clusters of flowers arising from the serration/notches of the phyllodia. There are 5 or 6 sepals in the calyx that are unfused and yellow to red. There is no corolla. In staminate flowers there is a staminal column with glands at its base and no ovary. In carpellate flowers the ovary is superior with 3 locules each with 2 ovules and no stamens. The fruit is a 3-lobed capsule that turns brown at maturity and is covered with small projections/swellings
Habitat: Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus grows in open rocky areas and along the edges of Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation-Shrublands (scrubland).
Distribution in Bahamas/Globally: Phyllanthus epiphyllanthus occurs on all islands in the Bahamian Archipelago and throughout the entire Caribbean region.