Indian Gooseberry/Emblica (আমলকি)

Indian Gooseberry/Emblica/Anola

Scientific name: Phyllanthus emblica L.

Synonym: Emblica Officinalis

Bangla name: আমলকি (‘Amloki’, ‘Amla’)

Taxonomic Position According to Cronquist (1988)

Botanical Description of Indian Gooseberry

Habit: A perennial tree.

Root: Tap root system

Stem: Stem glabrous, up to 20 m tall

Leaf: Compound leaf

Flower: Small, sepal generally 3-5, petal usually absent

Androecium: Stamen 3

Gynoecium: Ovary superior, 3

Fruit: A drupe.

Economic Importance

A fruit with higher amount of vitamin-C.
Used as medicinal purpose, All parts of the plant are used in various Ayurvedic/Unani medicine herbal preparations, including the fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers
Used in cosmetics, popularly used in inks, shampoos and hair oils, the high tannin content of Indian gooseberry fruit serves as a mordant for fixing dyes in fabrics. Amla shampoos and hair oil are traditionally believed to nourish the hair and scalp and prevent premature grey hair.

VIDEO ON EMBLICA (Source Yotube)

Table 1. Anola variety released by Horticulture Research Center, BARI, Joydebpur, Bangladesh