Phyllanthus emblica L.

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain in 1768, it was figured in Loddiges’ Botanical Cabinet.  ‘A native of the East Indies, Cochin China, and China.  In Malabar it becomes a small tree of twelve or fourteen feet high, and the fruit, which is much larger than a cherry, is eatable.  The leaves are extremely elegant, being long and slender pinnate; they seem to be never wholly developed, as at the ends always appear the rudiments of more leaflets.  The flowers are produced on the footstalk: they are small but very curious.’  [LBC no.548/1821]. 

‘The Emblick Myrobalon.  Myrobalanus Emblica.  This tree grows about 24 foot high, the leaves are a dark green above & a light green underneath, and the flowers white, with white stamina and yellow apices; and the fruit a pale green; both without and within.  This specimen I had from the Malabar Garden, Vol. 1. Tab.38 & the fruit that is open and divided I did from the life.  It grows in several parts of the East Indies.  This species of the Myrobalans is said to purge phlegm at first & afterwards choler; and are an ingredient in the Decoctum Epithymi.’  [Blackwell pl.400/1739].

History at Camden Park

Listed only in the 1857 catalogue [T.755/1857].  This could the Phyllanthus sp. obtained from the Sydney Botanic Garden on 17th October 1853 [RBGS AB] but Breynia nivosa Small, which see, is perhaps more likely.

Notes