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Plants & People: The Intersection of Botany and Human Experience

Flowers of Phyllanthus emblica

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The Wonder Berry : Phyllanthus emblica Known for being rich in both nutrition and history, the amla berry or as Carl Linneaus named it in 1753, Phyllanthus emblica, can be classified as India’s “Wonder Berry.” Originally believed to come from the semi-arid areas and plains of Northern India, the plant is native to Asia's tropic south-eastern regions such as Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Such regions provide conditions like mixed forests and elevations, that the plant cannot live without. However, with the fruit’s beneficial properties being so popular, countries all over the world cultivate the amla berry with India well beyond 100,000 acres of amla development. The amla berry’s influence has even reached as far as the United States where seed distribution first began in the early 1900s. It is said that the Indian god Brahma’s tears germinated the first seeds. In fact, the origin of the fruit’s usage can be traced hundreds of years ago where it was and still used today as a healing remedy. This fruit has been used to cure fevers, joint inflammations, and constipation for hundreds of years. Even recent research has suggested that the antiviral and antibacterial properties of the amla berry may be able to prevent cancer, diabetes, and excessive cholesterol. Despite only being the size of a golf ball, the amla berry is very high in vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, iron, and calcium. In contrast to the size, these berries grow on trees that can reach heights of 12 meters all while surrounded by the beauty of greenish-yellow and pink flowers running across the branchlets. Ultimately, it is safe to say that such a plant is truly a wonder. By Natalie Nartz and Matthew Nguyen #amla
Nomenclature
Phyllanthus emblica was first described by Charles Linnaeus in his book, “Species Plantarum”, written in 1753. The holotype for Phyllanthus emblica was incorrectly determined in 2003, as the collection lacked the relevant number correlating it to “Species Plantarum”, and was a post-1753 addition to the herbarium. For these reasons this specimen was determined not to be the original material for the name. However, many other type specimens can be viewed and are primarily stored at the National History Museum of London's Collection Specimens (Stuart, n.d.).

The genus Phyllanthus is part of Phyllanthaceae, or the leafflower family. The word “phyllus” means leaves and the word “anthus” comes from the word flower in Latin. The naming of this genera and family is due to two possibilities : (1.) The habit in which each flower hangs below one leaf or (2.) The petal character of the sepals. However it is more likely that the term leafflower is the fact that the flowers often take on the place of leaves along branches.
The common names for Phyllanthus emblica include : amla, aamlaa, aamalaki, dhataari, emblic myrobalan, Indian Gooseberry, and yu gan zi. The word “amla” and those similar comes from the Sanskrit word “amla” meaning sour and acidic. “Emblica” could be derived from the word “emblem”, which is a sort of symbol of cultural importance (Online Etymology Dictionary, n.d.).
Observation History
The fruit of amla has deep ties to Hindu mythology. It is said that when the god Brahma became engrossed within the meditation of Vishnu, the preserver and protector of the universe, they began to cry. In Hindu mythology, it is these tears of a god that fell onto the ground and germinated the first tree on earth, the Amla tree. Art of the amla tree and berry can be dated back to the mid-1800's (Focus, 2012).
The amla berry has always been revered and respected within Indian South-east Asian culture for its amazing medical properties and spiritual ties. However, the United States didn’t even receive or distribute seeds until the early 1900s. Seeds were sent to public gardens within Florida and experimental stations in the Caribbean, Hawaii, and the Philippines, however the fruits received little to no enthusiasm. It wasn’t until 1945, when the US Office of Foreign Agricultural Relations heard of the amla medicinal properties and great source of vitamin C (Rahman & Bari, 2005).
Further research was done to confirm the high level of ascorbic acid within Amla, however research interest at the time was focused on the Barbados cherry which appeared to have higher levels. The amla was quickly forgotten across the US, leaving few old trees around Southern Florida.
Many companies such as the Campbell Soup Company as well as countries such as Australia have requested fruits and trees for research and planting however the true intention of these pursuits have not been revealed.
Evolutionary History
Amla trees are believed to have originated in a large span of South and South-East Asia including Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, and Southern China (Manissorn et al., 2010).
The complete evolutionary history of Phyllanthus emblica can be characterized by phylogenies that map out the genus Phyllanthus. Phyllanthus itself encompasses about 750 species within tropical and subtropical regions. The feather-like and deciduous character of the Amla branchlets are said to closely resemble pinnately compound leaves, especially those within the genus, Parkia from the family, Fabaceae (Hoffmann et al., 2006).
Additionally, studies have gone on to study Amla against differing taxa within Phyllanthus as well as outside of the genus. Catalase, an essential enzyme to Amla’s antioxidant and structural properties, has been found to be most similar to the catalase of soybeans.
Ecology
Amla’s current native range spreads throughout South and Southeast Asia. The shrub is commonly found in India and South China, but also thrives in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Its preferred habitat includes dry to mixed forests, open forests or scrub, and within village groves and along roadsides. They can also be found along hillslopes and thrive in elevations of between 800 to 1500 meters (PROTA, n.d.).
The trees can grow up to 12 meters tall and are light-demanding as well as drought resistant. Amla trees are fire resistant as well, and are often the first plants to reappear after a fire.
Amla trees begin flowering between March and May, depending upon the availability of warm temperatures, and then begin fruiting in June through September. However, these trees grow and mature quite slowly, only beginning to fruit when the organism is at least 5-8 years old. The flowers can be wind pollinated or pollinated by an organism such as a bee. Their seeds are dispersed by mammals including humans. What makes the amla berries unique is their ability to retain ripe fruits for several months without risking loss of quality to the fruits or the tree itself (Komor & Devi, 2016).
Vegetative Morphology
As a part of the Phyllanthaceae family, Phyllanthus emblica grows up to 8 meters in size with branchlets that grow 10 to 20 centimeters. The leaves of Phyllanthus emblica are simple, sub sessile, and pinnate. The branchlets are not glabrous or pubescent and are deciduous. The bark of the tree is somewhat smooth, has a light grey and brown hue, and can also be peeled off the tree in thin flakes (Phyllanthus emblica, 2022).

With an approximate 1 inch in diameter, the amla berry is roughly the size of a golf ball. It is a smooth, greenish-yellow fruit that has six distinct vertical furrows and is firm to the touch.

The skin of the amla berry is translucent and thin. Under Phyllanthus emblica's peel, lies the flesh and pit of the berry which resembles a hexagonal stone. Enclosed within the pit are six seeds (Elma Skincare, n.d.).
Reproductive Morphology
The flowers of the Amla are small but plentiful, and often cover entire branches of the tree. This habit may be the reflective of the genus, Phyllanthus ( “phyll” = leaf & “anthus” = flower).
The flowers can be greenish-yellow or pink in color and are divided into six distinct segments. The Amla tree is monoecious, meaning it has both male and female flowers existing on one individual. Male flowers are typically located towards the base of the branch and have three stamen, while female flowers grow towards the distal part of the inflorescences and have three styles.
The flowering process begins between March and April, primarily depending upon warmer temperatures. The plant is typically wind or bee pollinated, and fruiting continues through September and October (Saini R. & Sihag R.C., 2020).
Domestication History
As the most historical and profound medicinal berry in India, Phyllanthus emblica was said to be created from the tears of the Indian god, Brahma, during mediation. The amla berry’s history dates back at least a thousand years ago with records indicating its use by Indian healers (Smith, 2020). Hundreds of years later, during the colonial period, British colonizers would begin to refer to the amla berry as the Indian gooseberry.

Due to recent research and knowledge surrounding the amla berry’s benefits, it is no coincidence that the fruit is said to be religious. Studies have shown that the fruit possesses antimicrobial and antiviral attributes correlated to the prevention of complications such as cancer, diabetes, and high cholesterol (Elma Skincare, n.d.).

With such potential, it makes sense that such a fruit has been domesticated for hundreds of years. In fact, growth of Phyllanthus emblica has been particularly rampant. In the 1980s, India alone reportedly had over 7,000 acres of amla cultivation, whereas today, amla cultivation has reached well beyond 100,000 acres and counting (Pandey, 2004).
Cultivation Practices
Indigenous to the tropic south-eastern regions of Asia, the amla berry is a common plant that is grown among the semi-arid regions and plains of Northern India. The best conditions for Phyllanthus emblica include altitudes ranging from sea-level up to 5,000 feet, deep soil, and a climate that is not very hot but humid. Regions known to carry the amla berry feature China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and even Florida (Vikaspedia, 2022).

Typically, the Indian gooseberry is replanted with seeds collected from overripened fruits. However, it does not end there, as the seeds endure a float test since only the sunken seeds will germinate. After about four months, the seedlings can be grafted, increasing their rate of success to about 60% to 80%. As for the amla trees that produce low quality fruits, they are cut back about 4 feet to promote the budding of new shoots. It is only around March and May that the trees are ready to be harvested (Elma Skincare, n.d.).

Anyone ranging from commercial farmers to locals harvest the berry by shaking the trees causing the berries to drop onto the ground. The yield of the amla berry can vary since many immature amla berry drop alongside the mature ones.
Nutritional Value
Phyllanthus emblica is known to have great culinary and nutritional value, notably vitamin C. A hundred gram serving of amla berries contains as much vitamin C as 20 oranges. With low calories and zero sugar, the amla berry is a perfect snack, providing an excellent source of vitamin E, vitamin A, iron, and calcium. Despite being quite fibrous, one factor of the berry may drive people away - the sour, bitter, and astringent flavor (Chauhan, 2019).

Being that the fruit is extremely acidic, the juice of the fruit is often used to enhance the flavor of vinegar, candies, jams, and other preserves. It is even prepared as a sauce and added to meals to increase overall nutritional benefit (Elma Skincare, n.d.).

Aside from snacking, Phyllanthus emblica is utilized in many dishes. For example, the bark of Phyllanthus emblica is used for its bitter flavor in an Indonesian soup known as “holat” while the berry’s flesh can be cooked into various South Asian dishes like "dal" (Phyllanthus emblica, 2022).
Human Experience
The reason behind why many Indians believe the amla berry was a gift from their god, Brahma, is due to its miraculous medicinal properties. In India, the amla berry is such a well-respected plant that it will be ignored during deforestation, showing just how historically significant this plant really is.

Phyllanthus emblica has many chemicals within and is often used in medicine in an Indian culture called Ayurveda. For hundreds of years, this fruit has been used to treat conditions such as fevers, joint inflammations, and constipation. Consequently, modern research has indicated that the amla berry’s antiviral and antimicrobial attributes may assist in the prevention of cancer, diabetes, and high cholesterol. It is claimed that the fruit is even associated with anti-aging and memory improvement (Vikaspedia, 2022).

Today, the fruit has been integrated into modern medicines, creams, and hair products (Elma Skincare, n.d.). Perhaps, in the future, researchers may be able to extract components from the berry for use in specific treatments. Throughout Indian history, the amla berry has been regarded as “the” super fruit and will continue to do so religiously and medicinally.
References
Amla: Search Online Etymology Dictionary. Etymology. (n.d.). Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=amla

Chauhan, M. (2019, April 26). Amla (Emblica Officinalis) - Uses, Benefits, Properties & Dosage. Retrieved from Planet Ayurveda: https://www.planetayurveda.com/library/amla-emblica-officinalis/
Elma Skincare. (n.d.). Amla . Retrieved from elmaskincare: https://elmaskincare.com/herbs/herbs_amla.htm
Focus. (2012). Amla: An ancient super berry emerges from India. Clinical Education. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.clinicaleducation.org/resources/reviews/amla-an-ancient-super-berry-emerges-from-india

Hoffmann, P., Kathriarachchi, H., & Wurdack, K. J. (2006). A phylogenetic classification of Phyllanthaceae (Malpighiales; Euphorbiaceae sensu lato). Kew Bulletin , 37-53.

Komor, P. & Devi, O.S. 2016. Edible bioresources & livelihoods. Assam State Biodiversity Board, Guwahati. pp. 245

Manissorn, J., Sukrong, S., Ruangrungsi, N., & Mizukami, H. (2010). Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Phyllanthus species in Thailand and the application of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism for Phyllanthus amarus identification. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 33(10), 1723-1727.
Pandey, M. (2004, November 15). An amla a day. Retrieved from DownToEarth: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/an-amla-a-day-12081#:~:text=The%20amla%20tree%20mingles%20perfectly,Emblica%20myrobalan%20in%20scientific%20parlance

Phyllanthus emblica. (2022, May 19). Retrieved from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllanthus_emblica
Phyllanthus emblica (prota). Phyllanthus emblica (PROTA) - PlantUse English. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2022, from https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Phyllanthus_emblica_(PROTA)#:~:text=In%20its%20natural%20distribution%20area,up%20to%201500%20m%20altitude
Rahman, M. A., & Bari, M. R. (2005). Amloki (Emblica officinalis).

Saini R. & Sihag R.C. (2020). Flowering Biology and Phenology of Aonla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) in the Semi-arid Environment of North-West India. International Journal of Agricultural Research, 15: 1-8.

Smith, M. W. (2020, September 1). Health Benefits of Amla (Indian Gooseberry). Retrieved from webmd: https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-amla
Stuart, A. G. (n.d.). Herbal safety. UTEP. Retrieved May 28, 2022, from https://www.utep.edu/herbal-safety/herbal-facts/herbal facts sheet/emblica.html
Vikaspedia. (2022, April 19). Amla. Retrieved from Vikaspedia: https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/package-of-practices/fruits-1/amla