Download Carambola (Spanish) Family: Oxalidaceae Genus: Averrhoa

Carambola (Spanish)
Family: Oxalidaceae
Genus: Averrhoa
Distribution
It is native to tropical Asia,
and has been grown
throughout Southeast Asia,
the south Pacific and East
Asia for hundreds of years.
Habitat
It thrives in tropical and
subtropical regions.
Description
It is an attractive, small,
evergreen tree or shrub
with a short trunk and
broad-shaped crown. Trees
can reach up to 12 m high.
The wood is white, turning
red with age. They have
drooping branches.
The alternately arranged
leaves are pinnately
compound with 5-11 soft
green leaflets. The upper
surface is smooth, while the
underside is finely hairy and
whitish.
Adaptation
The upper surface of the
leaf is smooth, while the
underside is finely hairy and
whitish. Leaflets are
reactive to light and fold
together at night, when cold
or shaken.
They are cultivated commercially in India, Southeast Asia,
southern China, Taiwan, and Florida. They are also grown in
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru,
Brazil, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico,
Trinidad, Guyana and parts of Africa In other areas they are
usually grown as ornamentals, rather than for consumption.
The best growing conditions are full sun, 178cm of rain annually
and good drainage.
Trees can grow at high altitudes, up to 1200 m.
Flowers are lilac, purple-streaked and downy with red stalks.
Each flower is 6 mm wide with recurved tips. The bisexual
flowers are bell-shaped with five sepals and five petals. The ten
stamens are alternately long and short in length.
The common name refers to
the fruit, which, in cross
section, resembles a five
point star.
The fruit is oval-shaped, 6 15 cm long and up to 9 cm
wide, showy with three to
five ridges running down the
side. The colour changes with age from green to yellow or
orange when ripe. The flesh is smooth, juicy and crisp with a
sour to sweet taste. Seeds are flat, thin and brown. Some
cultivars produce fruit with no seeds.
The tree grows rapidly and produces fruit at four or five years of
age. A large amount of rain during the rainy season can reduce
the amount of fruit, but, in ideal conditions, starfruit can
produce from 91 to 180 kg of fruit a year. The tree flowers
throughout the year, with main fruiting seasons from April to
June depending on location. Fruit flavour can vary from very
sour to very sweet depending on the cultivar.
Animal Connections
Humans and other animals
consume the fruit.
Flowers are cross pollinated primarily by honey bees and
stingless bees.
Economic Value
It is of minor economic
importance. However the
fruit does have many
medicinal health benefits.
It is rich in vitamin C, low in sugar and sodium, and contains
both antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
Many different cultivars are grown. Most are selected to
optimize fruit flavour and maximum fruit production for
specific growing areas, with each country or region having their
own specific selections.
Interesting Facts
Starfruit is one of 900
species in the Oxalis family.
The starfruit or carambola
is a woody plant, while
most species in the Oxalis
family are herbaceous.
The genus Averrhoa
contains two species, both
of which are grown for
their edible fruit.
Status Threats
Growers will often cover
the fruit with paper or
plastic bags to protect them
from predators and
pests.
The entire fruit can be eaten, even the waxy skin. The fruit is
best eaten when it is firm, yellow with a tinge of green, and the
ridges are brown. Eaten fresh, it can be added to salads as a
garnish and to drinks. Fruits can be pickled or preserved, made
into jellies or jams.
Fruit can be used as a stain remover on cloth and skin, and as
brass polish.
Averrhoa bilimbi, sometimes called cucumber tree, produces
fruit that is different from starfruit in appearance and flavour
(very sour), and is used in curries and jams.
Major pests include fruit flies, ants
and birds. Caterpillars will eat the
flowers and leaves.
Starfruit not yet ripe
Starfruit at various stages of ripeness
Cano Palma
Although not growing on
or near the station fruit
frequently washes up on the
nearby beaches.
They are cultivated in
surrounding areas.
Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest Conservation
www.coterc.org