Amla

The tree is small to medium in size, reaching 8 to 18 m in height, with a crooked trunk and spreading branches. The branchlets are glabrous or finely pubescent, 10–20 cm long, usually  the leaves are simple, subsessile and closely set along branchlets, light green, resembling pinnate leaves. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit is nearly spherical, light greenish yellow, quite smooth and hard on appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows.

Medicinal Use

In traditional Indian medicine, dried and fruits which are fresh of the plant are used. All parts of the plant are used in various Ayurvedic/Unani medicine (Jawarish amla) herbal preparations, including the fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers. According to Ayurveda, aamla fruit is sour and astringent  in taste , with sweet , bitter  and pungent  secondary tastes. Its qualities  are light and dry, the postdigestive effect  is sweet , and its energy  is cooling .

In Chinese traditional therapy, this fruit is called yuganzi, which is used to cure throat inflammation.