Fauna
Plant

Myrobalan

Phyllanthus emblica

Also known as Indian Gooseberry, Amla, Emblic, Amalaki

Indian gooseberry trees feature feathery, light green foliage resembling pinnate leaves that are actually closely set branchlets. Spherical, greenish-yellow fruits ripen in autumn and early winter, providing a critical seasonal resource for local birds and frugivorous mammals across South Asian forests. The peeling greyish-brown bark reveals a smooth reddish inner layer, giving the crooked trunk a distinct mottled appearance in open woodlands.

DeciduousMedicinalTropical
Myrobalan reference1 / 7
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Indian Peafowl
  • Rhesus Macaque
  • Barking Deer
ThreatsOverharvesting of wild fruits, habitat fragmentation, and uncontrolled forest fires
HabitatsTropical dry deciduous forests, open woodlands, and rocky hillsides
Life span50–80 years
Classification
  1. OrderMalpighiales
  2. FamilyPhyllanthaceae
  3. GenusPhyllanthus
  4. SpeciesPhyllanthus emblica
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Leaf inspection: Examine the fine, closely spaced branchlets that give the impression of delicate compound leaves.
  • Fruit observation: Look along twig undersides between autumn and winter to spot the hard, spherical fruits clustered tightly to branches.
Related species
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