AVERRHOA

Averrhoa L., Sp. Pl. ed.1: 428. 1753; Gen. Pl. 5: 196. 1754; Edgew. & Hook. f. in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 1: 439. 1874; Duthie, Fl. Gang. Pl. 1: 132. 1903; Talbot, For. Fl. Bomb. Pres. and Sind, 1: 182. 1909; Brandis, Ind. Trees, 110. 1911; Bailey, Stand. Cyclop. Hort. 1: 435. 1914; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 11:1; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org; Carambola Adans., Fam. Pl. 2: 508. 1763.

Trees or shrubs. Stipules absent. Leaves alternate or subopposite, imparipinnate; leaflets subopposite. Flowers in cymose panicles, axillary or ramal; small or medium-sized, fragrant. Sepals 5, red, free or basally connate, semifleshy. Petals 5, free, white, pink or purple, contorted. Stamens all fertile or 5 without anthers. Ovary 5-locular, with many ovules in each loculus. Fruit a berry, oblong, usually 5-lobed. Seeds few or numerous, naked or arillate, aril fleshy and surrounding the seeds.

5 species

Averrhoa carambola

Averrhoa carambola L., Sp. Pl. ed.1: 428. 1753; Edgew. & Hook. f. in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 1: 439. 1874; Cooke, Fl. Bomb. Pres. 1: 168. 1901; Duthie, Fl. Gang. Pl. 1: 132. 1903; Talbot, For. Fl. Bomb. Pres. and Sind 1: 182. 1909; A. C. Butterworth, Madr. Trees 118. 1911; Brandis, Ind. Trees, 110. 1911; Bamber, Pl. Punj. 41. 1916; Parker, For. Fl. Punj. ed.1: 60. 1918 (Reprint 1973); Fl. China @ eFloras.org 11:1; Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org; A. acutangula Stokes, Hot. Mat. Med. 2: 543. 1812.

Trees, 4-6 m tall, densely branched, younger branches pubescent. Leaves alternate, 7-25 cm long, imparipinnate, rachis pubescent; petioles 2-8 cm long; leaflets 5-13, opposite to subopposite; subsessile, petiolules 1-2.5 mm, pubescent; leaflet blades ovate to elliptic, 3-8 cm x 1.5-4.5 cm, terminal the largest, the laterals decreasing in size towards base of leaf, base obliquely rounded, apex acute to acuminate, margin entire, upper surface glabrous, lower sparsely pubescent. Inflorescences axillary or ramal, panicle of cymes, panicle pubescent or tomentose; branches and flower buds crimson. Flowers numerous, small, actinomorphic, bisexual, 5-merous, hypogynous. Bracts 1.5 mm long, ovate, caducous; pedicel ca. 2 mm long, jointed. Sepals 5, free or basally connate, 3-5 mm long, ovate or narrowly elliptic, imbricate, persistent, sparingly pubescent. Petals 5, free or basally slightly connate, 6-9 mm x 3-4 mm, pink to red with darker markings, reflexed down in middle, adaxially puberulent. Stamens 10, united at base, 5 included, shorter without anthers (sometimes 1 or 2 longer and antheriferous), each alternating with long fertile antheriferous stamens, slightly exserted; filaments of fertile stamens ca. 2 mm long, curved, persistent, base dilated; anthers obovate to ovate, basifixed. Disk absent. Carpels 5, syncarpous; ovary ca. 1.8 mm long, pubescent, with 5 acute lobes, 5-locular with many ovules in each loculus, ovary not beaked; styles 5 , distinct; stigmas capitate.

Fruit a berry, 6-7.5 cm long, narrowly oblong, acutely 5-ridged, yellow when mature. Seeds arillate, often few abortive in fruit, aril fleshy, 2-lobed, lacerate. (Fruits not observed)

Flowering and Fruiting: February to August
Common Names: Star Fruit, Carambola; Kamrak, Karmal, Kamranga (Hindi)