The Indian Gooseberry, Phyllanthus emblica, also known as Amla, is a small sized deciduous, subtropical kind of than strictly tropical fruit bearing tree, reaching 8 to 18 meters in height, with an irregular trunk and spreading branches.

The Indian Gooseberry tree is indigenous to tropical Asia and most commonly found growing in the fields and sub-mountain regions all over the Indian subcontinent from 200 to 1800 meters altitudes.

Phyllanthus emblica leaves are light green in color, simple, feathery with a lemon like scent, attached and tightly set along branchlets. The flowers are monoecioius and greenish-yellow in color born in auxiliary bundles.

The fruit of the same name as the tree is near round berries, light greenish-yellow in color, quite smooth and hard on appearance, with 6 vertical bands or furrows. Fruit is edible, maturing in autumn and generally harvested by hand.

The taste of Indian Gooseberry is somewhat sour-bitter and sharp, and is quite fibrous. It is consumed raw or cooked into different dishes. In India, it is usually consumed steeped in salt water and turmeric to make the sour fruits tasteful.

In South India, the fruit is consumed pickled with salt, oil, and spices. In the northerly part of India the fruit is soaked in sugar syrup for a long time until they are taken the sweet flavor and it is traditionally consumed after meals.

Phyllanthus emblica is a member of the Euphorbiaceae family the genus Phyllanthus. It is known and its traditional use in Indian Ayurvedic and Unani Medicine. All parts of the plant including dehydrated and fresh fruits are employed.

A pilot study demonstrated Indian Gooseberry extracts setting off apoptosis (programmed cell death) and change of gene expression in osteoclasts implicated in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.

Resent Medical research has shown in vitro antiviral and antimicrobial attributes.
Preparations of leaves bark or fruit have shown potential efficacy against laboratory modeling of disease, such as for inflammation, cancer, age-related renal disease, and diabetes.

Tree propagation is by seed. While the Indian Gooseberry is a near subtropical plant it is renowned for being able to flourish in parts too dry and soil too poor for most other fruit crops. Horticulturists have developed grafted varieties of Phyllanthus emblica for better fruit quality.

Indian Gooseberry, Phyllanthus emblica

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The key to successful fruit and nut production is the provision of a beneficial environment for the trees that bear them.