Otaheite gooseberry

(Phyllanthus acidus)

A tree of Otaheite gooseberry

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Synonyms: Averrhoa acida, Cicca acida, Cicca distichus, Phyllanthus distichus.

Other names: Amlak, grosella, Malay gooseberry, Star gooseberry, Tahitian gooseberry.

Otaheite gooseberry is a small tropical tree, growing upto 20 feet tall.  This tree resembles Averohhoa bilimbi a lot.  It has membranaceous, simple, 2-7 cm long leaves which are dorsally glabrous.  The leaves are arranged on branches which look like compound leaves.  Flowers, both male as well as female, borne on same, 5-12 cm long panicles.

Otaheite gooseberry is believed to have been originated in Madagascar.  It is found in the countries of South East Asia., Mauritius, Guam, Hawaii and Pacific islands.

Fruits are borne in loose clusters, which hang from the tree trunk and main branches. Individual fruits are 2-3 cm in diameter, near globose and angled.
 

Fruits are generally too tart for fresh eating but are esteemed for jellies, preserves and pastries.

The juice can be used in beverage, or the fruit pickled in sugar. When cooked with plenty of sugar, the fruit turns ruby red and produces a kind of jelly. It can also be salted.

Though it is closely related to Emblica officinalis (Phyllanthus emblica) which ranks second highest in vitamin C content, but the vitamin C content of Otaheite gooseberry is not even 5 mg per 100 g of pulp.

There are no commercial plantings. But trees are often planted in home gardens as an ornamental plant and the fruits are harvested.  The fruits can sometimes be seen being sold in towns of South India.  Many tribal traditional healers in the Central Indian state of Chhatisgarh ascribe Otaheite gooseberry valuable medicinal properties.