bilimbi

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• cucumber-tree
• bilimbi-tree
• tree-sorrel
• Belimbing
• Cucumber tree
• Tree sorrel

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Averrhoa bilimbi f. papuana
• Averrhoa obtusangula
• Averrhoa abtusangulata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Averrhoa bilimbi, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Oxalidales and the family Oxalidaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement in the genus Averrhoa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution stretching across several tropical and subtropical regions. Within the Western Indian Ocean, it can be found in both the Chagos Archipelago and the Comoros. Moving toward the Asian continent, its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, specifically in Assam. The species is also widely distributed in Eastern Asia, with documented locations in Taiwan. Finally, it inhabits parts of China, specifically in the China Southeast region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Averrhoa bilimbi is characterized by its adaptability to diverse environments, primarily thriving within anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica) where human activity and land modification have facilitated its distribution. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal tolerance, occupying a vertical gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum elevation of 1000 m AMSL. Its ability to colonize human-disturbed landscapes suggests a high degree of resilience and a capacity to integrate into modified ecosystems, ranging from lowland coastal regions to mid-elevation tropical settings.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Averrhoa bilimbi is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist and thrive through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its life cycle, it maintains an evergreen status, ensuring that it retains its foliage year-round rather than undergoing a seasonal shedding period. This combination of a long-lived life cycle and continuous leaf presence contributes to its robust growth patterns and ability to produce fruit consistently over many years.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Averrhoa bilimbi is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber or liana. It is a terrestrial species, existing independently without parasitic or epiphytic dependencies. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with a minimum height of 5 m, a mean height of approximately 4.25 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

4.25 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Averrhoa bilimbi is characterized by its specific metabolic and morphological adaptations, most notably its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. In terms of its vegetative structure, the foliage exhibits distinct dimensional variations, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, maintaining an average length of approximately 4 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length mean:

4 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Averrhoa bilimbi has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, fruit.

Leaf

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Natural product communications

Fruit

1. Journal of food and drug analysis

Chemicals

Averrhoa bilimbi has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ascorbic acid, niacin, riboflavin, Ash, CALCIUM.

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Malaysian journal of nutrition

niacin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Malaysian journal of nutrition

riboflavin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Malaysian journal of nutrition

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CHLOROPHYLL

1. Malaysian journal of nutrition

Carotenoids

1. Malaysian journal of nutrition

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Flavonoid

1. Pharmacognosy research

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Averrhoa bilimbi has 213 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hypolipidemic, Antidiabetic, Antihypertensive, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hypolipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Averrhoa bilimbi has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include blood glucose, diabetes mellitus, head lice, hyperglycemia, lipids.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations