| + | Averrhoa carambola, Linn. Carambola. Fig. 444. 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. P.M. 15, p. 231. Rheede, Hort. Ural. 3. pl. 43, 44. Cav. Diss. pl. 202.—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. |
− | 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. | + | 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. |