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{{Plantbox
{{SPlantbox
| color = IndianRed
|familia=Oxalidaceae
| common_names = Star Fruit
|genus=Averrhoa
| growth_habit = [[Tree]]
|species=carambola
| high = 30-40 ft. (9-12 m)
|common_name=Star Fruit
| wide = 15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)
|habit=tree
| lifespan = [[Perennial]]
|Min ht box=30
| exposure = Sun
|Min ht metric=ft
| water = moderate
|Max ht box=40
| features = Fruit
|Max ht metric=ft
| hardiness = 28F (0 C)
|Min wd box=15
| usda_zones = 9/10 - 11
|Min wd metric=ft
| sunset_zones = 23-24, H1, H2
|Max wd box=20
| name = ''Averrhoa carambola''
|Max wd metric=ft
| image = Carambola cut.jpg
|lifespan=perennial
| image_width = 250px
|exposure=sun
| image_caption = Carambola fruits
|water=moderate
|features=edible, fruit
|Min Temp Num=28
|Temp Metric=°F
|min_zone=10
|max_zone=11
|sunset_zones=23-24, H1, H2
|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
|image=Carambola cut.jpg
|image_width=240
|image_caption=Carambola fruits
}}
}}
The '''carambola''' is a species of [[tree]] native to [[Sri Lanka]], [[India]] and [[Indonesia]]. Carambola is closely related to the [[bilimbi]].
The '''carambola''' is a species of [[tree]] native to [[Sri Lanka]], [[India]] and [[Indonesia]]. Carambola is closely related to the [[bilimbi]].
Origin: The carambola is believed to have originated in Sri Lanka and the Moluccas, but it has been cultivated in southeast Asia and Malaysia for many centuries.
Origin: The carambola is believed to have originated in Sri Lanka and the Moluccas, but it has been cultivated in southeast Asia and Malaysia for many centuries.
A slow-growing tree, the star fruit is best adapted to warm tropics from sea level to 2000ft, but can be grown elsewhere if the plant is protected from extreme cold.
{{Inc|
Averrhoa carambola, Linn. Carambola. Height 15-30 ft.: lfts. 5-10: fls. rosy purple borne in the lf.- axils: fr. varying in size from a hen's egg to a large orange, ovate, acutely 5-angled, yellow, fragrant, the pulp acid. —Cult. sparingly in S. Calif., and frequent in W. Indies. The half-grown fr. used as pickles; the ripe fr. for preserves. There are said to be two varieties, the sweet and sour, the former being eaten. Said to produce 3 crops a year. Leaves responding to the touch.
}}
==Cultivation==
==Cultivation==
Propagation: The carambola is widely grown from seed though viability lasts only a few days. Only plump, fully developed seed should be planted. Veneer grafting during the time of most active growth gives the best results. Healthy, year-old seedlings of 3/8 - 3/4 inch diameter are best for rootstocks. Graft-wood should be taken from mature twigs on which leaves are still present and, if possible, the buds are just beginning to grow. Cleft-grafting of green budwood is also successful. Top-working of older trees has been done by bark grafting. Air-layering is less successful than grafting. The roots develop slowly, and percentage of success often is low. Trees are small and rather weak when propagated by this method.
Propagation: The carambola is widely grown from seed though viability lasts only a few days. Only plump, fully developed seed should be planted. Veneer grafting during the time of most active growth gives the best results. Healthy, year-old seedlings of 3/8 - 3/4 inch diameter are best for rootstocks. Graft-wood should be taken from mature twigs on which leaves are still present and, if possible, the buds are just beginning to grow. Cleft-grafting of green budwood is also successful. Top-working of older trees has been done by bark grafting. Air-layering is less successful than grafting. The roots develop slowly, and percentage of success often is low. Trees are small and rather weak when propagated by this method.
==Cultivars==
===Pests and diseases===
Its fruit, the carambola, more popularly known as '''star fruit''', but also '''coromandel gooseberry''', '''kamranga''', or '''five finger''', is a golden-[[yellow]] to [[green]] [[berry]]. When cut across it shows a 5-pointed (sometimes 6-pointed or 7-pointed) star shape, hence the name, "star fruit." Star fruits are crunchy, and have a slightly tart, acidic, sweet taste, reminiscent of pears, apples, and sometimes grapes. The fruits are a good source of [[vitamin C]]. Its [[seed]]s are small and brown. They consist of a tough outer skin and a tangy white inside.
==Varieties==
Its fruit, the carambola, more popularly known as '''star fruit''', but also '''coromandel gooseberry''', '''kamranga''', or '''five finger''', is a golden-[[yellow]] to [[green]] [[berry]]. When cut across it shows a 5-pointed (sometimes 6-pointed or 7-pointed) star shape, hence the name, "star fruit." Star fruits are crunchy, and have a slightly tart, acidic, sweet taste, reminiscent of pears, apples, and sometimes grapes. The fruits are a good source of [[vitamin C]]. Its [[seed]]s are small and brown. They consist of a tough outer skin and a tangy white inside.
There are two varieties of star fruit - acidulate and sweet. The tart varieties can often be identified by their narrowly spaced ribs. The sweet varieties usually have thick fleshy ribs.
There are two varieties of star fruit - acidulate and sweet. The tart varieties can often be identified by their narrowly spaced ribs. The sweet varieties usually have thick fleshy ribs.
==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery perrow=5>
Image:Averrhoa carambola ARS k5735-7.jpg|Carambolas still on the tree
Image:Belimbing.jpg|Belimbing, as it is called in Indonesia
Image:New & old leaves I IMG 8444.jpg|New & old leaves
Image:New & old leaves I IMG 8444.jpg|New & old leaves
Image:Leaves- both sides I IMG 8443.jpg|Leaves- both sides
Image:Leaves- both sides I IMG 8443.jpg|Leaves- both sides
Image:Fruit & Trunk I IMG 8448.jpg|Fruit & Trunk
Image:Fruit & Trunk I IMG 8448.jpg|Fruit & Trunk
</gallery>
</gallery>
==References==
==References==
<references/>
*http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/carambola.html
*http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/carambola.html
* Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990. p. 39.
* Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990. p. 39.
* Maxwell, Lewis S. and Betty M. Maxwell. Florida Fruit, rev. ed. Lewis S. Maxwell, 1984. p. 19.
* Maxwell, Lewis S. and Betty M. Maxwell. Florida Fruit, rev. ed. Lewis S. Maxwell, 1984. p. 19.
* Morton, Julia F. Fruits of Warm Climates. Creative Resources Systems, Inc. 1987. pp. 125-128.
* Morton, Julia F. Fruits of Warm Climates. Creative Resources Systems, Inc. 1987. pp. 125-128.
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
<!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 -->
==External links==
==External links==
*{{wplink}}
*http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/carambola.html
*http://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/carambola.html
*[http://ndt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/18/1/120 Intoxication by star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) in 32 uraemic patients: treatment and outcome (Oxford journals)]
*[http://ndt.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/18/1/120 Intoxication by star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) in 32 uraemic patients: treatment and outcome (Oxford journals)]
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