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EUPHORBIACEAE
20. Phyilanthus emblica Linn. Sp. PI. 982. 1753. (Fig. 210).
Emblica officinalis
nodicoulis Hance.
Gaertn.—Phyilanthus taxifolius Don—Cicca emblica Kurz—Dichelastina
Engl. Emblic Myrobalan Tree; Sinh. Ambula, Awusada-nelli, Nelli, Nellika; Tarn.
Amalagam, Andakoram, Indul, Kattunelli, Nelli, Perunelli, Sirottam, Tattiri, Toppunelli; Hindi
Amalaci, Amla, Amlika, Anola, 'Anuli, Anvula, Anvurah, Anwera, Aonla, Aungra, Aunra,
Daula* Sens. Adiphala, Akara, Amalaki, Amamalakam, Amlika, Amraphala, Amrita,
Amritaphala, Bahuphali, Dhatri, Dhatrika, Dhatriphala, Jatiphala, Karshaphala, Kayastha,
Panch'arasa, Rochani, Shanta, Shiva, Shriphala, Shriphali, Tishya, Tishyaphala, Triphala,
Vayastha. Vrishya, Vrittaphala.
A small or middle-sized tree, about 10 m high, with a crooked trunk and spreading
branches; bark thin, grey with numerous bosses whence arise the leaf-bearing branchlets, young
parts pubescent; leaves simple, alternate, very numerous, closely placed, distichous, overlapping,
spreading, nearly sessile, about 1.2 cm long, linear strap-shaped, rounded at base,
subacute, glabrous, paler beneath; stipules minute,-acute; flowers unisexual, small, greenish
yellow, monoecious, apetaldus and axillary; male flowers: very small, numerous on slender
pedicels in axillary fascicles; sepals 6, oblong, obtuse, distinct, imbricate, disc absent; stamens
3, connate throughout; female flowers: few, nearly sessile, sepals as in male; ovary superior,
3-locular with 2 ovules in each loculus, surrounded by a cuplike lacerate disc, styles 3, large,
recurved or spreading, lobed; fruit globose, 1.2—1.6 cm diameter, fleshy, pale green or yellow,
of 3 sub-dehiscent, 2-seeded, crustaceous cocci enclosed in a thick fleshy coat; seeds 6, trigonous.
Flowers during October.
Illustrations. Beddome, Flor. Sylvat. pi. 258. 1868—1873; Wight, Ic. PI. Ind. Orient.
pi. 1896. 1852; Kirtikar and Basu, Indian Med. Plants, pi. 858. 1933; Herb. Peradeniya,
drawing.
Distribution. Grows in tropical and subtropical parts of India, Ceylon, Malay Peninsula
and China. In Ceylon, it is very common in exposed places on patana land in the moist regions
up to 4000 feet altitude.
India. Bengal:./. D. Hooker. Assam: Naga Hills, Kohina, Prain, June 1886; Tingale Bam,
Prains Collector, April 1899; Siwalik and Jaunsar Div., Dewan 107, 1921. Malabar, Concan, etc.,
Stocks, Law,etc. Maisor and Carnatic, G. Thomson.; Nilghiri Hills, Schmid, 1815—1835. Pen. Ind.
Orient., Herb. Wight 2582, Kew Distribution 1866—8. Ceylon. Thwaites CP. 2144; Lenadora,
Alexander, Oct. 1890. Central Prov., Peradeniya, Bot. Gard., cultivated, J. M. Silva, April 1911;
Jayaweera 1871, Nov. 1961. Uva Prov., Namunukula, /. M. de Silva, April 1924. Burma. Shan
States, Fort Stedman Valley, Aplin, Nov. 1887. Cuba. Harvard Trop. Gard., Jack 4246, Feb.
1928.
Uses. The pericarp of the fruit is often used in decoctions along with other ingredients
and externally on boils with cow ghee to-; promote suppuration. The root, bark and fruit are
astringent. The unripe fruit is cooling, laxative and diuretic. Exudation from incisions on the
fruit is applied externally on inflammation of'the eye. The juice of the bark with honey and
turmeric is given for gonorrhoea. An infusion of the leaves with fenugreek seed is given for
chronic diarrhoea. The fruit is rich in vitamin C. A decoction of the fruit with stems
of Tinospora cordifolia is a well-known remedy for various urinary diseases.
The expressed juice of the fruit along with other ingredients is used to cure haemorrhage,
anaemia, colic, acute leprosy, fits, insanity, jaundice, cough, hiccough, indigestion, dyspepsia,
asthma and other diseases.
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