Averrhoa bilimbi Belimbing buloh Oxalidaceae

Growth Habit: This small tree typically reaches 5-10 meters (16-33 ft) in height, making it a great choice for smaller gardens. Its short trunk branches out into numerous upright stems, creating a visually interesting structure. Leaves: The lush green foliage features an alternate arrangement, often clustering at branch tips. Each leaf measures 30-60 cm (12-24 in) long and boasts 11-37 individual leaflets. These leaflets are ovate to oblong in shape, ranging from 2-10 cm (0.8-4 in) long and 1.2 cm (0.5 in) wide. Flowers: The bilimbi tree produces a captivating display of small, purplish-red flowers. These fragrant blooms have five petals and appear in pendulous panicles (loosely hanging clusters) containing around 60 flowers each. Fruit: The fruit, known as bilimbi, is a fascinating aspect of this tree. Starting as light green, it matures to a yellowish-green color. Its shape varies from ellipsoid to obovoid, measuring 4-10 cm (1.6-4 in) long.

Here are some interesting facts about Averrhoa bilimbi, commonly known as bilimbi or belimbing buluh in Malay Language:

• Origin: The bilimbi tree is native to Southeast Asia and is now found growing throughout the tropics https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/bilimbi/.

• Family: It belongs to the family Oxalidaceae and is a close relative of the carambola tree, also known as star fruit

• Appearance: The bilimbi tree is a small, attractive, long-lived, perennial tree that can grow about 5-10 meters in height

• Fruit: The fruit is an ellipsoid-obovoid berry, 4–10 cm long, and turns from green to yellowish-green or white when ripe. It's known for its sour and astringent taste when raw, and tart and tangy when ripe

• Nutritional Value: Bilimbi is rich in Vitamin C and contains other nutrients like iron, vitamin B2, and phosphorus

• Medicinal Uses: The leaves, flowers, and fruits are used in traditional medicine. Leaves are used for abdominal pain, mumps, and rheumatism; flowers for cough and mouth sores; and fruits for whooping cough, ulcers, diabetes prevention, and acne treatment https://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/bilimbi/.

• Culinary Uses: Due to its high oxalic acid content, the fruit is very sour and is often used in chutneys, pickled relishes, and as a spice in cooking https://uforest.org/Species/A/Averrhoa_bilimbi.php.

• Cultural Significance: In some cultures, the sun-dried bilimbi is called asam sunti and is used in various dishes https://www.onlyfoods.net/bilimbi.html.

Image Metadata:

Jul 29, 2014

Tue, 2:30 AM GMT+08:00

SONY DSC-RX100M2

ƒ/41/25010.4mmISO250

Averrhoa bilimbi Belimbing

Location: Jalan Matang, 34750 Matang, Perak, Malaysia https://maps.app.goo.gl/V2U6Zao1Gub1ZpYr6

RMR6+WG Matang, Perak, Malaysia

4.842448624789347, 100.6617210657952

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