Averrhoa carambola seed

LATIN NAME: Averrhoa carambola

COMMON NAME: Star Fruit

The star fruit tree is a tidy, upright tree that gives a curious, ridged fruit. The small, evergreen tree carries the glossy, pinnate leaves that fold up at night, and the loose clusters of the small, pink-and-white, bell-shaped flowers open through the warm season. The fine, yellow-green, deeply ridged fruits follow, and a cut crosswise shows the perfect, five-pointed star of the fruit. The tree is a fine, generous, long-lived addition to the warm, sheltered garden, and the fruit is a fresh, juicy favourite of the warm regions. It is a tree of the rich, moist, well-drained ground.

Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology

The star fruit tree sits firmly in the studies of the warm-climate fruit trees, and the plant has been looked at for the curious, deeply ridged fruits and the glossy, pinnate leaves that fold at night. Plant scientists have studied the fine, juicy fruit and its place in the diets of the warm regions, and the tree keeps showing up in the work on the tropical fruit crops. The small, pink-and-white, bell-shaped flowers and the tidy, upright habit have also made it a fine garden tree, and the star-shaped cut of the fruit has made it a favourite subject of the studies of the fruit forms.

Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications

The star fruit earns its keep in the kitchen and the garden both. The juicy, ridged fruit is eaten fresh out of hand, sliced into the salads and the drinks, and the tidy, evergreen tree is a fine, dependable shade tree of the warm, sheltered garden. The glossy, pinnate leaves give the tree a fine, fresh look through the whole year, and the small, pink-and-white flowers draw in the bees of the season. It has been written up in the horticultural and the culinary papers for the star-shaped fruit, and it is a fine, generous tree of the warm, frost-free garden.

The star fruit tree is one of the neatest of the warm-climate fruit trees, and the glossy, pinnate leaves fold up at night, giving the tree a fine, curious habit. The yellow-green, deeply ridged fruits cut into the perfect, five-pointed stars that made the fruit famous.

To grow the star fruit tree from seed, soak the flat, brown seeds in warm water overnight, then sow them at a depth of about a centimetre in pots of moist, free-draining soil, keep them in a warm, bright, sheltered spot and water gently. The seedlings push through in good time and grow on into fine, upright young trees. With the warmth, the shelter and the rich, moist, well-drained ground, the curious, ridged, star-cut fruits will be there in a few seasons.

Fruiting Height: 4-20 ft.
Sun Exposure: Full Sun/Partial shade
Bloom Color: Pink/White
Bloom Time: Blooms repeatedly
Foliage: Evergreen
Time To Fruit: 2-4 years

Synonims for yellow Sar fruit – Carambola, Averrhoa carambola, five-finger.

Carambolas are cultivated throughout many tropical and warm subtropical areas of the world. Carambolas have been cultivated in southeast Asia (Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka) for centuries, and trees were introduced in Florida over 100 years ago.
The carambola tree is small to medium in height (10 to 33 ft), single or multi-trunked. Carambola trees are evergreen, although when grown in cooler locations, they lose some or all their leaves during the late winter and early spring. Trees grow rapidly in locations protected from strong winds. Carambola trees grow best in warm to hot areas, although they also do well in warm subtropical areas that experience only occasional freezing temperatures. The range of temperatures for best growth and fruiting are 68° to 95°F; trees generally stop growing at temperatures below 65°F. Air temperatures of 30° to 32°F may kill young leaves; young trees, twigs, and mature leaves may be killed at 27° to 29°F. Small branches may be damaged at 25° to 29°F, and large branches and mature trees may be killed at temperatures of 20° to 24°F. Carambola trees have only limited tolerance to drought. Carambola trees generally develop iron, magnesium, and manganese deficiencies when grown in soils with a pH above 7. Symptoms of iron deficiency are interveinal chlorosis (green veins with yellowing in between), reduced leaflet size, and, with severe deficiency, leaflets may become almost white. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include a mottling of green and yellow areas. Symptoms of manganese deficiency include reduced leaf size and yellowing.
The carambola has two major blooms in south Florida, April through May and September through October. However, some bloom may be found throughout the year. The harvest season is generally from June through February with peaks in fruit production during August through September and December through February. Usually there are a few fruits available throughout the year.
Carambolas are primarily consumed as a fresh fruit. They may be used in fruit salads, as a garnish for meat, salad, and casserole dishes or they may be processed into pickles, sauces, wines, and jellies. The fruit may also be canned, preserved, and dried. The fruit is a good source of potassium. Carambola is also rich in antioxidants and vitamin C; and low in sugar, sodium, and acid. It is also a potent source of both primary and secondary polyphenolic antioxidants.
This is the seedling of the new selection of the Bell variety that is famous for the very pleasant taste sweet fruits and very good production. Fruits are dark yellow-orange when fully ripe.