266 A FLORA OP MANILA 



1. B. sensitivum (L.) DC. Macahia (Tag.). 



Stems up to 30 cm high, usually shorter. Leaves numerous, crowded at 

 the apex of the stem, 5 to 12 long, the leaflets 8 to 14 pairs, the upper ones 

 gradually increasing in size, 1.5 cm long or less, oblong to oMong-obovate, 

 often somewhat curved, apex rounded or apiculate. Peduncles numerous, 

 usually about as long as the leaves. Flowers- many, crowded at the apices 

 of the peduncles, shortly pedicelled. Sepals subulate-lanceolate, striate, 

 about 7 mm long. Petals yellow. Capsules shorter than the persistent 

 •calyx. 



San Pedro Macati, Pasay, etc., in dry places, fl. Aug.-Oct., and probably 

 in other months; widely distributed in the Philippines at low and medium 

 altitudes. Tropical Asia, Africa, and America. 



3. AVERRHOA Linnaeus 



Small trees. Leaves alternate, odd-pinnate, the leaflets opposite or 

 nearly so; stipules none. Flowers small, regular, in panicled cymes, either 

 axillary or from the trunk and larger branches. Sepals 5, imbricate. 

 Petals 5, contorted. Stamens 10, united at the base, all perfect Or 5 without 

 anthers. Ovary 5-lobed, 5-celled; styles 5, distinct; stigmas capitate; 

 ovules numerous. Fruit fleshy, oblong, cylindric or longitudinally 5-lobed. 

 Seeds naked or arillate, albumen scanty, fleshy; embryo straight. (In 

 honor of Averrho€s, latinized form of Ibn-Roshd, an Arabian philosopher.) 



Three or four species in tropical America, two now widely distributed in 

 the tropics in cultivation, both found in the Philippines. 



Inflorescence mostly axillary; leaflets usually 5 pairs, glabrous; fruit with 

 5 sharp lobes, star-shaped in cross-section : 1. A. carambola 



Inflorescence on the trunk and larger branches; leaflets 10 to 17 pairs, pu- 

 bescent; fruit cylindric or with 5 obscure rounded lobes.... 2. A. biliinbi 



1. A. CARAMBOLA L. Bilimbing (Sp.-Fil.). 



A shrub or small tree 6 m high or less. Leaves pinnate, about 15 cm 

 long; leaflets quite glabrous, usually about 5 pairs, ovate to ovate-Janceo- 

 late, acuminate, the upper ones about 5 cm long, the lower ones smaller. 

 Panicles small, axillary, usually about 3 cm long. Flowers 5 to 6 mm 

 long, somewhat campanulate. Calyx reddish-purple. Petals pale-purple 

 to rather bright-purple, often margined with white. Stamens 10, the 5 

 shorter ones usually without anthers. Fruit fleshy, green, or greenish- 

 yellow usually about 6 cm long, with 5 longitudinal, sharp, angular lobes, 

 acid, edible. Seeds arillate. (Fl. Filip. pi. 1S9.) 



Rather common in cultivation, fl. most of the year. Widely distributed 

 in the Philippines and throughout the tropics, a native of tropical America. 



Curiously when this species was introduced into the Philippines it appears 

 to have received the common name used for A. bilimbi L. in most other 

 countries, which error has persisted. 



2. A. BILIMBI L. Camias, Iba (Tag.). 



A small tree 5 to 12 m high. Leaves pinnate, 20 to 60 cm long, the 

 rachis and leaflets pubescent; leaflets 10 to 17 pairs, oblong, acuminate, 

 5 to 10 cm long. Panicles from the trunk and larger branches, usually 

 fascicled, pubescent, 15 cm long or less. Flowers about 1.5 cm long, some- 

 what fragrant. Calyx pubescent. Corolla purple, often marked with white. 

 Fruit subcylindric or with 5, obscure, broaji, rounded, longitudinal lobes, 

 green, acid, edible, about 4 cm long. Seeds not arillate. (Fl. Filip. pi. 1S8.) 



