Averrhoa bilimbi - Meet the Plants - National Tropical Botanical Garden Plant Database

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Currently Viewing: Averrhoa bilimbi

Averrhoa bilimbi - Inflorescence with fruit

Peter Goltra

Other Resources for Averrhoa bilimbi

Averrhoa bilimbi - Flowers and fruits on base of trunk

Flowers and fruits on base of trunk (photo)

Averrhoa bilimbi - Branches with leaves and trunk

Branches with leaves and trunk (photo)

Averrhoa bilimbi - Flowers and young fruits

Flowers and young fruits (photo)

Averrhoa bilimbi - Trunk and branches with fruit

Trunk and branches with fruit (photo)

Habit (photo)

Averrhoa bilimbi - Inflorescences and fruit

Inflorescences and fruit (photo)

Taxonomy:

Averrhoa bilimbi L. (Oxalidaceae)

Common Names: Bilimbi, Cucumber Tree
Ilocano: pias

Description:

Averrhoa bilimbi L. (Oxalidaceae)

Common Names: Bilimbi, Cucumber Tree
Ilocano: pias

Classification:

Kingdom: Plantae-Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta-Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta-Seed plants
Division; Magnoliophyta-Flowering plants
Class: Dicotyledonae
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Oxalidales
Family: Oxalidaceae
Genus: Averrhoa
Species: blimbi
Description: This tree grows about 13 m. tall with compound leaves of 14-38 yellow, hairy leaflets. The flowers of the Bilimbi usually grow directly out of the trunk of the tree, and are cream colored with red dots about 1.5 to 2 cm. long. The fruits are oblong and cucumber shaped, (~10 x 4 cm.) yellow-green and slightly acidic taste.

(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)

Geographic Distribution:

Bilimbi is not known to grow in the wild, but is found cultivated throughout Malaysia and Indonesia, which is likely where it was first domesticated. It is now cultivated throughout the world.

(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)

Food Uses:

Edibility: The fruit is used a lot in Filipino cooking, to add a tart or acid flavor (like lemon juice

or tamarind). The fruit can also be pickled or made into a chutney. (Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)

Medicinal Uses:**

Bilimbi Juice is used medicinally throughout asia. The fruit juice has a high concentration of oxalic acid which is useful for cleaning and bleaching.

(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)

** The information provided above is not intended to be used as a guide for treatment of medical conditions using plants.

Species Interconnections and Interdependencies:

Bilimbi uses a systerm known as “heterostylie” to ensure that that trees are not inbred. Some trees have long flower styles, and others short.

In general, only pollen from the opposite flower type will be able to pollinate a given flower. For this reason, farmers who want a maximum yield try to plant both types.
(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)

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