Phyllanthus mirabilis is a rare, small, slow-growing tree or shrub of the Phyllanthaceae family, native to Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, which grows in rocky habitats. The plant was first mentioned in 1865 by the famous Swiss botanist Johannes Müller Argoviensis in his book.
Phyllanthus mirabilis is easily identified by its deep green, oval-shaped leaves with pale pink stripes on the top and pale purple on the underside. In winter, the leaves disappear, leaving only the stem, which grows back in the spring.
Over a period of time, the plant accumulates water in its woody caudex, which allows it to survive droughts and makes it an outstanding member of its genus. The trunk's tail-like shape with twisted branches appears in the greenie's youth and disappears as it ages.