Phyllanthus indofischeri
Bennet
Phyllanthaceae
Emblica fischeri Gamble
Phyllanthus cecilfischeri J.L.Ellis
Phyllanthus fischeri (Gamble) J.L.Ellis
Common Name:
General Information
Phyllanthus indofischeri is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing up to 18 metres tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild in large quantities for local use and trade both as a medicine and as a food. It is often used as a substitute for Amla (Phyllanthus emblica).
Phyllanthus indofischeri is under huge pressure in the wild due to the unregulated collection of its fruits for food and medicinal use, coupled with loss of habitat and forest degradation. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2015)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
Range
E. Asia - southern India (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala)
Habitat
Evergreen and deciduous forest[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. Exposed slopes in dry deciduous forests; at elevations up to 900 metres.
Properties
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Deciduous Tree |
| Height | 6.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Medium |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Established plants are very drought tolerant.
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw[
2040- Title
- Ethnic Food Plants and Ethnic Food Preparation in Eastern Ghats and adjacent Deccan Region
- Publication
- Ethnobotany of India Vol 1 pp 129-211, 2017
- Author
- Sadasivaiah B. & Pullaiah T.
- Publisher
- Apple Academic Press; Oakville, Canada
- Year
- 2017
- ISBN
- 978-1-77188-339-9
- Description
-
]. The fully ripe fruits are eaten raw whilst unripe fruits are used in the preparation of pickles[
2040- Title
- Ethnic Food Plants and Ethnic Food Preparation in Eastern Ghats and adjacent Deccan Region
- Publication
- Ethnobotany of India Vol 1 pp 129-211, 2017
- Author
- Sadasivaiah B. & Pullaiah T.
- Publisher
- Apple Academic Press; Oakville, Canada
- Year
- 2017
- ISBN
- 978-1-77188-339-9
- Description
-
]. The greenish, globose fruit is a drupe around 25 - 40mm in diameter.
Medicinal
The fruits of this species are used as substitute to Phyllanthus emblica locally known as 'Amla'[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Phyllanthus emblica is of great importance in traditional Asiatic medicine, not only as an antiscorbutic, but also in the treatment of diverse ailments, especially those associated with the digestive organs. It is an ingredient in a large number of polyherbal preparations.
The leaves, fruits and bark extract are used to treat diseases such as diabetes, inflammation and age related renal diseases[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
A handful of the tender young leaves, mixed with honey, is given to children to arrest dysentery[
782- Title
- Ethnobotany of the Valaiyans of Karandamalai, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu, India.
- Publication
- Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 195-203.
- Author
- Kottaimuthu. R.
- Website
- http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/ebl
- Publisher
- The Berkeley Electronic Press
- Year
- 2008
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Terse information on the medicinal uses of plants by a tribe of people in southern India. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
