296 WILD FOOD PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



fragrant and about 1.5 centimeters long. The corolla is purple, 

 often marked with white. 



This species is common and widely distributed from northern 

 Luzon to the Sulu Archipelago. It is frequently cultivated. 



AVERRHOA CARAMBOLA L. (Fig. 35). Balimbing. 



Local names: Balimbing (Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Tarlac, Manila, Laguna, 

 Pampanga, Bulacan, Bataan, Camarines) ; daligan (Lepanto) ; dalihan 

 (Cagayan) ; garulun, gallurayi (Cagayan) ; sirindte (Abra). 



The fruit is fleshy, acid, green or greenish-yellow, usually 

 about 6 centimeters long, with five (very rarely six), longitud- 

 inal, angular lobes, and is edible. 



Averrhoa carmnhola is a shrub or small tree reaching a height 

 of about 6 meters. The leaves are pinnate and about 15 centi- 

 meters long. There are usually about 5 pairs of leaflets which 

 are opposite, smooth, pointed at the tip, the upper one about 5 

 centimeters long and the lower ones smaller. The flowering 

 branches are small, occur in the axils of the leaves, and are 

 usually about 3 centimeters long. The flowers are 5 to 6 milli- 

 meters in length, and purple, the petals often having a white 

 margin. 



This species is a native of tropical America, but is com- 

 mon and widely distributed in the Philippines. It is usually 

 cultivated. 



Genus OXALIS 

 OXALIS REPENS Thunb. 



Local names: Mantsiksik (Union); pichik (Batanes) ; susokoyili, tai- 

 ■iigang-dagd (Tagalog). 



This species is eaten as an ingredient of salads. 



Oxalis repens is a small, prostrate herb. The stems are creep- 

 ing, up to 50 centimeters in length, usually root at the nodes, 

 and have long, scattered hairs. The leaves are trifoliate. The 

 petioles are 5 centimeters long, and the leaflets are 0.5 to 1.5 

 centimeters in length. The flowers are yellow, 1 to 3 on each 

 stalk, and nearly a centimeter in length. The fruit is a hairy, 

 somewhat cylindrical capsule 1 to 1.8 centimeters in length. 



This species is widely distributed in the Philippines in waste 

 places. 



Family RUTACEAE 



Genus CITRUS 

 CITRUS HYSTRIX DC. Kabuyau. 



A description and figure of this species and its local names are 

 given in the section on resins, gums, and oils. 



The fruits are about 8 centimeters in diameter and very sour. 



