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Averrhoa carambola
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Family:
OXALIDACEAE
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Citation: Averrhoa carambola L., Sp. Pl. 428. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 1: 439. 1874; Manilal & Sivar., Fl. Calicut 56. 1982; Ansari, Fl. Kasaragod Div. 87. 1985; Manna in Hajra et al., Fl. India 4: 257. 1997; N.P. Balakr. & W. Arisdason in P. Daniel, Fl. Kerala 1: 567. 2005; Sunil & Sivadasan, Fl. Alappuzha Dist. 150. 2009.
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Malayalam Name(s):
Aanappulinchakka, Anappulinchi, Chathurapuli, Karambola, Kamarangam, Thamaratha, Vyirapuli
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Tamil name(s):
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English name(s):
Balimbing, Carambola apple, Coromandel gooseberry, Star fruit tree
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Description:
Tree, to 15 m tall; branches often drooping; young parts yellowish-pubescent to reddish-glabrescent. Leaves scattered; rachises to 20 cm long; leaflets 3-6 pairs, variable, acute to acuminate at apex, to 10 x 4 cm, glaucous beneath; lateral nerves 4-10 pairs. Inflorescences axillary, rarely on branches, to 6 cm long; pedicels 3-6 mm long; jointed above middle. Sepals obovate or oblong-ovate to 3-angled, acute to obliquely emarginate, to 4 x 2 mm, subglabrous, bright red, yellowish brown with pale margin when dry. Petals obovate to lanceolate, connate above ca 1 mm long claw, glabrous or with minute septate-glandular hairs inside. Shorter stamens without anthers; filaments often swollen at base, to 4.5 mm long. Ovary ellipsoid, ca 2.5 mm long, appressed-puberulous mainly on ribs; ovules 3-5 in each locule; styles to 2 mm long. Fruits ovoid to ellipsoid with 5 acute longitudinal ridges, stellate in cross section, lobed at both ends, to 12 x 6 cm, shining, yellowish green; seeds to 10, 12 x 5 mm; aril 2-lipped, enclosing seed, fleshy.
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Habit:
Tree
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Flowering & Fruiting:
May-August
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District(s):
All Districts
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Medicinal:
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Habitat:
Cultivated
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Distribution:
Native of Indonesia, cultivated in other Tropical countries
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Aquatic:
No
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Epiphyte(s):
No
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Saprophyte:
No
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Stem parasite:
No
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Root parasite:
No
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Flower colour(s):
Pink, Red
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Weed:
No
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Monocot/Dicot:
Dicotyledonous Plants
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Exotic:
Yes
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Garden:
No
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Edible:
Yes
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Vegetable:
Yes
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Endemic to:
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IUCN status:
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Altitude:
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Localities:
Kumbla, Charummodu
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