Phyllanthus emblica aka Amla

Phyllanthus emblica is a fruit tree in the Phyllanthaceae family. Its names include amla, emblic, and Indian gooseberry. It comes from tropical and subtropical Asia. Its range spans China, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. It grows in mixed woods, dry forests, and open scrub. People grow it in home gardens for food and medicine. The species has a Least Concern conservation listing.

This slow-growing tree sheds its leaves and small branchlets. Yet it rarely loses all its foliage at once. Garden size is given as 49 feet [15 metres] tall and wide. Other accounts give heights of 25–59 feet [7.5–18 metres]. Rare trees reach 98 feet [30 metres]. The trunk can twist and develop a gnarled shape. It can reach about 14 inches [0.35 metres] across. The leaves are simple and light green. The flowers are greenish yellow, and bees pollinate them. The tree is not self-fertile.

The fruit has a sour taste that can pucker the mouth. People eat it fresh or cook it with other foods. Sugar, salt, or chillies help soften its sharp taste. Soaking fruit in brine can reduce its astringency. Cooks use it in jams, jellies, tarts, and chutneys. It supplies vitamin C, pectin, carbohydrates, and minerals. Leaves and seeds also appear among its listed edible parts. The sources report no known hazards, but give no pet-safety details.

Emblic suits hot lowland sites with humid or semi-arid climates. It also grows at higher sites in southern China. Give it full sun, though it can take some daily shade. It needs soil that drains well but tolerates poor ground. Sand, loam, and clay can all suit it. It accepts acid, neutral, and alkaline soils, including very alkaline ground. It can also cope with saline soil and drought. Sources place it in USDA zones 10–12. It withstands strong winds but does not suit sea exposure.

People also plant emblic as an ornamental and for woodland restoration. Its branches provide material for green manure. Its wood has uses as fuel and for furniture. Tannin-rich fruit, bark, and leaves feature in traditional Asian medicine. These uses include remedies for coughs, fever, and digestive complaints. Such uses do not establish that every remedy works. Growers raise plants from seed, cuttings, layers, or grafts. Fresh seed is best because it stores poorly. The supplied sources name no specific pests or diseases.