Common name: Star fruit tree Tamil name: Tamarattai
Averrohoa is a genus under Oxalidaceae, it consists of woody trees and shrubs. A carambola grows to around 4 to 7 meters in height. A carambola has bipinnate leaf arranged in an alternate manner. The leaf size and number of leaf let pairs vary. The leaf measure around 6 cm; the leaflets have 4 pairs or more; the axis ends in a leaf. The bottom leaflets are small rather rhombic to round in shape with an acute tip and measure around 1.7 cm. The leaflet size increases as we go up the leaf axis the terminal leaflet measure around 5 cm. The leaflet are arranged in an alternate manner; smooth margin and have an oblique base. The inflorescence is in the form of an axillary panicle. The flowers are small pink in color with margins white in color. The flower stalk measure around 4 mm and flower length is around 5mm and they measure across around 4 mm. The fruit is in the form an ellipsoidal berry; initially green in color turn yellow when ripe. The fruits are sour and edible the cross section of the fruit is 5 angled and resembles a star. This plant closely resembles A bilimbi of the same genus. In A bilimbi the fruit is strongly acidic and the flowers are dark red in color. Often planted as an ornamental cum edible-fruit tree in Coimbatore.
