131
Phyllanthus
emblica L.
Synonym : Emblica officinalis Gaertn.
Family
: Euphorbiaceae
Local Names
: Nelli, Amla, Indian
Gooseberry
Flowering
and fruiting period:
July – February
Distribution: Throughout the
tropics
Habitat: Dry and moist
deciduous forests, also cultivated in the plains
IUCN
status:
Data Deficient
Endemic: Yes
Uses: The fruit is an extremely rich source of
ascorbic acid. The fruits have diuretic, laxative and purgative activities and
also show molluscicidal and antimicrobial properties. A principal ingredient of
various Ayurvedic tonic formulae. The fruit is given in order to allay the
effects of aging and to restore the organs. The sour fruits are one of the
ingredients of 'triphala', an Ayurvedic rejuvenating, laxative tonic based on
this species plus the fruits of Terminalia bellireca and Terminalia chebula.
The juice of the fruit is also given in order to strengthen the pancreas of
diabetics, as well as in the treatment of eye problems, joint pain, diarrhoea
and dysentery.
Key
Characters:
Deciduous trees, bark grey-brown, rough. Leaves simple, alternate, oblong or
linear-oblong. Flowers unisexual, greenish-yellow, densely clustered in leaf
axils. Male flowers: tepals 6, oblanceolate, stamens 3, anthers oblong. Female
flowers: tepals 6, oblanceolate, obtuse; ovary superior, 3-celled; ovules 2 in
each cell; styles 3, recurved, stigmatiferous. Fruit a capsule, subglobose,
dehiscing into 6 cocci, disc enlarged to give an appearance of fleshy
yellowish-green, indehiscent berry.
