Family: OXALIDACEAE
Genus: Averrhoa
Species: bilimbi
Species Author: L.
Vernacular: Bilimbi
Averrhoa bilimbi L. (Oxalidaceae)
Common Names: Bilimbi, Cucumber Tree
Ilocano: pias
Classification:
Kingdom: Plantae-Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta-Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta-Seed plants
Division; Magnoliophyta-Flowering plants
Class: Dicotyledonae
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Oxalidales
Family: Oxalidaceae
Genus: Averrhoa
Species: blimbi
Description: This tree grows about 13 m. tall with compound leaves of 14-38 yellow, hairy leaflets. The flowers of the Bilimbi usually grow directly out of the trunk of the tree, and are cream colored with red dots about 1.5 to 2 cm. long. The fruits are oblong and cucumber shaped, (~10 x 4 cm.) yellow-green and slightly acidic taste.
(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
Bilimbi Juice is used medicinally throughout asia. The fruit juice has a high concentration of oxalic acid which is useful for cleaning and bleaching.
(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
Bilimbi is not known to grow in the wild, but is found cultivated throughout Malaysia and Indonesia, which is likely where it was first domesticated. It is now cultivated throughout the world.
(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
Edibility: The fruit is used a lot in Filipino cooking, to add a tart or acid flavor (like lemon juice or tamarind). The fruit can also be pickled or made into a chutney. (Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
Bilimbi uses a systerm known as “heterostylie” to ensure that that trees are not inbred. Some trees have long flower styles, and others short. In general, only pollen from the opposite flower type will be able to pollinate a given flower. For this reason, farmers who want a maximum yield try to plant both types.
(Staples, G. W. and D. R. Herbst. 2005. A Tropical Garden Flora: Plants cultivated in the Hawaiian Islands and other tropical places. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, Hawai`i.)
We currently have 6 herbarium specimens for Averrhoa bilimbi in our collection. Click on any specimen below to view the herbarium sheet data.
- 022860 - collected by Michael Evans in 1966
- 017239 - collected by Tim Flynn in 1986
- 038078 - collected by Art Whistler in 1995
- 053023 - collected by P. Raynor in 2003
- 048156 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 2007
- 049037 - collected by Michael J. Balick in 2007
