Called `potato bush' because the plant smells of baked potatoes in the afternoon.

The root-bark is used to ensure visions.
Froth from rootbark, stirred in water, gives native diviners clear and penetrating vision.

There's another interesting Phyllanthus, Phyllanthus flacourtioides.
The bark is burnt and the ashes are rubbed onto the body as a stimulant and tonic.
The alkaloid phyllabine has been isolated from the rootbark (Foussard-Blanpin et al. 1967). Phyllabine chloride slightly inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAOI), and stimulates the suprarenal glands, producing secretion of adrenaline (Quevauviller et al. 1965, 1967).