Carambola, star fruit
Family Oxalidaceae
Averrhoa carambola, the carambola or star fruit (A. carambola 1), is a small tree, up to 12 m high, with compound pinnate leaves and small pink flowers borne in clusters on leafy twigs (A. carambola 2). The fruit is a yellow fleshy berry, 12-15 cm long, star-shaped in cross section (A. carambola 3), with juicy aromatic flesh.
Distribution
The carambola is a native of Indonesia and is widely spread throughout the tropics.
Use
The fruits, occuring in sweet and acid forms, are used in fruit salads, drinks and preserves. Only recently they are available on the European market.