Phyllanthus emblica L. | |
Phyllanthaceae | |
Nelli | |
| Botanical Name | Phyllanthus emblica L. |
| Synonyms | Cicca emblica. (L.)Kurz,: Diasperus emblica .(L.) Kuntze |
| Family | Phyllanthaceae |
| Common Name | English : Indian goose berry, Amla / Tamil : Nelli |
| Distribution | Global : India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ceylon, Malaya, China. Indian: Andaman & Nicobar Island, Assam, Madhya Pradesh,Manipur, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh |
| Description | A Medium sized deciduous tree up to 2 m height, Bark brown to whitish yellow. Stem terete, producing number of leafy shoots, rachis pubescent. Leaves poorly developed pinnately compound, leaflet alternate, margin entire, obtuse with semi acute; lamina leathery, adaxially green, abaxially pale green, dry matured leaves brownish, base slightly oblique, shallowly cordate, leafy shoots with many male flowers and few larger female flowers; male flower pedicelled, sepals 6, subequal, membranous, yellowish. Stamens 3, closely associated, anther erect, dehiscent longitudinally, filament; female flower: Style 3, greenish, connate at the base, bifid, horizontal, stigma brownish, slightly bent. Gynoecium long, style long, ovary, green. |
| Flowering Fruiting period | March-May/June-September. |
| Uses | Fruit is eaten raw or cooked into various dishes and used to make jams, jellies, tarts, chutneys etc. |
| Medicinal Uses | Used in Ayurveda as a potent rasayana and in traditional medicine For the treatment of diarrhoea, jaundice, and inflammation. |
| Tamil Name | Nelli |