Carambola (Averrhoa carambola)

Carambola (Averrhoa carambola) is a slow growing tree from the Malay Region. In nature, the trees will reach about 30 feet tall and about half as wide. The alternate, odd-pinnate leaves are somewhat sensitive — leaves fold together at night, much like mimosas. The trees produce a fruit known as a star fruit, which is an astringent fruit with a sweet and sour flavour. The slow growing nature of these trees makes them an excellent container tree. It is best propagated from seed.

The fruit is rich in juice to the extent that one can make wine out of them. In Burma, it is used for making Tea pickle. In western cuisines, it’s unique shape lends itself mainly as a garnish. Carambola wood is white, becoming reddish with age; close-grained, medium-hard. It has been utilized for construction and furniture.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom : Plantae
Division : Magnoliophyta
Class : Magnoliopsida
Order : Oxalidales
Family : Oxalidaceae
Genus : Averrhoa
Species : Averrhoa carambola

Pronunciation/Meaning:

• Averrhoa (av-er-OH-uh) - Named for Averrhoes, an Arabian physician.
• carambola (kah-rahm-BOH-luh) - Latin form of an Aboriginal name.

Common Names:

• Carambola, Starfruit, Chinese Star Fruit, Five-angled Fruit, Star Apple, Bilimbi, Belimbing, Coromandel Gooseberry

Links:

• California Rare Fruit Growers - Carambola
• Plant of the Week - Carambola
• Purdue University : Center for New Crops & Plant Products - Carambola

Image Courtesy of Man-wah Leung.