carambola

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• blimbing
• caramba
• five-corner

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sarcotheca philippica
• Connaropsis philippica
• Averrhoa pentandra
• Averrhoa acutangula

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Averrhoa carambola, 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. Finally, its taxonomic hierarchy concludes with the genus Averrhoa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several tropical and subtropical regions. In West-Central Tropical Africa, its presence is noted around the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Its range extends to the Western Indian Ocean, specifically within the Comoros. Within China, it can be found in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan regions. These diverse locations highlight the plant's adaptability to various humid environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Averrhoa bilimbi (syn. Averrhoa carambola) is characterized by a broad adaptive capacity across diverse altitudinal gradients. It thrives within an elevational range spanning from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum altitude of 1460 m AMSL. Regarding its preferred environment, the species frequently colonizes anthropized areas (Área Antrópica), demonstrating a strong ability to integrate into human-modified landscapes, such as gardens, orchards, and urban green spaces, where it often benefits from anthropogenic soil enrichment and managed water availability.

Elevational range max:

1460 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Averrhoa bilimbi (syn. Averrhoa carambola) is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring long-term survival and continuous presence in its natural habitat. As a phanerophyte, specifically classified as both a phanerophyte and a nanophanerophyte depending on its growth stage and environmental conditions, its buds are elevated well above the ground on woody stems. The plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year, providing a consistent photosynthetic canopy that supports its long-lived lifecycle.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Averrhoa carambola is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically manifesting as a tree. This terrestrial species grows as an independent plant, showing no parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a self-supporting organism that typically reaches a mean height of 8 m, though its vertical reach can vary from a minimum of 5 m to a maximum of 10 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

10 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Plant height min:

5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Averrhoa carambola is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's foliage exhibits specific morphological dimensions, with leaflets typically featuring a mean leaf length of 5 cm, though these measurements can range from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 7 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width varies from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3.5 cm. Structurally, the plant does not exhibit succulence, maintaining standard leaf tissue density rather than specialized water-storage tissues. Furthermore, Averrhoa carambola does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic mechanisms required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for its own growth.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length mean:

5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Averrhoa carambola is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects, with bees playing a significant role in the process. Interestingly, the plant exhibits a lack of self-fertilization, relying instead on these external agents to ensure genetic diversity. The resulting fruits vary in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 8 cm, maintaining an average fruit length of approximately 6.5 cm. Regarding seed dissemination, the plant employs an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, though it is also notable for being anthropochorous, meaning its distribution is significantly influenced by human activities.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit length max:

8 cm

Fruit length mean:

6.5 cm

Fruit length min:

5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Averrhoa carambola has 2 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, stem.

Fruit

1. Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Horticulture research

Stem

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Averrhoa carambola has 56 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ascorbic acid, ALUMINUM, Ash, BETA-IONONE, BORON.

ascorbic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Scientific reports

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-IONONE

1. Dr. Duke

BORON

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Carotenoids

1. Dr. Duke

Cryptochrome

1. Dr. Duke

Cryptoxanthin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Averrhoa carambola has 397 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Hepatotoxic, Neurotoxic, ACE-Inhibitor, Acaricide, Acarifuge.

Hepatotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacology

Neurotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Bioinformation

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acarifuge

1. Dr. Duke

Acidifier

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Additive

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelochemic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Averrhoa carambola has 11 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include fever, vomiting, Alzheimer's disease, chronic headache, cough.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations