Phyllanthus emblica L., Sp. Pl. 2: 982. 1753. Gen. Pl. ed. 5: 422. 1754; Muell. Arg.in DC., Prodr. 15(2). 352. 1986; Hook.f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5: 289. 1890; Parker, Fl. Punj.452. 1918; Fl. China 11: 182; Radcliffe -Smith, Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 35; Diaspersus emblica (L.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 599. 1891; Emblica officinalis Gaertn., Fruct.Sem. Pl. 2: 122. 1790.

Moderately large trees, up to 15 m tall, monoecious, deciduous; main stems terete,sparsely lenticellate. Bark grey,smooth, flaking irregularly. Stem with very reducedshort shoots producing several solitary or fascicled leafy shoots, up to 50 cm long,resembling pinnate leaves but usually floriferous towards base, falling as unit.Leafy shoots angular, tawny, pubescent, at start ofgrowing season often with poorly developed leaves and densely flowered at base,later with few or no flowers and better developed leaves. Leaves distichous;petiole 0.5-0.7 mm long; leaf blade oblong or linear- oblong, 8-20 mm x 2-4 mm,leathery, paler abaxially, base shallowly cordate and slightly oblique, marginnarrowly revolute, apex truncate, rounded or obtuse, mucronate or apiculate;lateral veins 4-7, not very distinct, abaxial surface glabrous or puberulent. Stipulesof foliage leaves ca. 1 mm long, triangular, ovate, brown, margins entire ordenticulate, ciliate. Flowers unisexual, 2-3 mm across, greenish-yellow, denselyclustered in leaf axils, fascicles with many (or all) male flowers and 1-2 female flowers.Male Flowers: Pedicels slender, 1-2 mm long. Sepals 6, oblong-oblanceolate,1.5-2 mm x 0.5-0.7 mm, apex obtuse or rounded, margin entire or shallowlydenticulate, yellowish green with pale hyaline margin.Petals 0.Disc glands 0. Stamens 3 (occasionally 6), filaments connate into short terete column, 0.3-0.7mm; anthers erect, oblong, apiculate, ca. 8 mm long, thecae parallel, dehiscencelongitudinal. Female Flowers: Subsessile with pedicels ca. 0.5 mm long. Sepals 6,more or less similar as in male flower, relativity thicker. Petals 0. Disc urceolate, 1.5mm high, completely enclosing the ovary, 6-ribbed, lacerate at tip. Ovary ovoid,ca. 1.5 mm, 3-celled, 2 ovules per cell; styles 3, 2-4 mm long, connate at base,deeply bifid, lobes divided at tip. Fruit a drupe, globose, 1-4 cm in diameter,smooth, succulent, greenish or yellowish-white; endocarp massive, woody, 6-ridged, tardily (at slow pace, late) dehiscent, ca. 2 mm thick. Seeds 3, somewhatunequal, trigonous, smooth, dark chestnut brown.

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