230 CULTURE OF THE CARAMBOLA AND BLIMBING AS FRUIT-TREES. 
somewhat rounded ; of a rich, rosy-purple, variegated with orange-yellow. Stamens 
ten, disposed in five pairs, one half of which are fertile ; filaments curved. Fruit 
with five acute angles, varying in size from that of a hen's egg to a large orange ; 
they become very handsome as they approach maturity, the colour becomes of the 
richest yellow, and the perfume on ripening, is both rich and exhilarating : the pulp, 
however, contains a very large portion of acid, on which account it is less esteemed 
as a table-fruit than many other fruits ; by some persons, however, it is considered 
when dead ripe, delicious. 
Although from its acidity this fruit is not much sought after by Europeans for 
their dessert, yet it is very much brought to table as a pickle in its half-grown state, 
and likewise as a preserve made from the ripe fruit, for both of which purposes it is 
stated to be first-rate. In Java it is used both when ripe and unripe, in tarts, as 
apples are with us, and the flavour is said to be excellent ; a syrup, also, is made 
with the expressed juice, and a valuable conserve of the flowers. These two last 
preparations are highly valued as remedies in fevers and bilious disorders ; both the 
roots, leaves, and fruit, are also prescribed for similar diseases, and are either eaten 
alone, or along with the leaves of the Betel Nut tree. The juice of the ripe fruit 
makes a good dye. 
The appearance of the tree when covered with bloom and fruit, is very orna- 
mental ; although it is of a very moderate stature, yet it forms an elegant spreading 
head, and the light, hairy, pinnated foliage being not much unlike that of some 
species of Robinia, render the plant a favourite garden object ; being in addi- 
tion a very prolific fruit-bearer, producing three successive heavy crops in a year, 
and continuing to prosper under favourable circumstances from three until fifty 
years of age. The timber is little valued, and from its small size is seldom used. 
Another species of Averrhoa, besides the Carambola, is much grown in India, 
and equally esteemed for domestic purposes with that fruit, namely — 
The Biltmbi (Averrhoa Bilimbi). This is the Cucumber tree of G-oa, where 
it is extensively cultivated, as it is also in various other parts of the East Indies, 
and in South America. It forms a small tree, rarely exceeding in height eight to 
fifteen feet. The branches are few, and somewhat reclining. The leaves are 
alternate, pinnated, consisting of five to ten pairs of ovate-lanceolate, entire, smooth, 
sensitive leaflets on short petioles. Flowers disposed in racemes, and panicles, 
produced from the trunk and branches. Calyx pubescent. Petals five, ovate- 
oblong. Stamens in five pairs. Fruit oblong, obtuse-angled, somewhat resembling 
a small thick cucumber, with a thin, smooth, green rind, filled with a grateful acid 
juice, the pulp and seeds being not much unlike those of the Cucumber. 
The Bilimbi is used exactly in the same manner, and for the same purposes as 
the Carambola ; the juice, however, although equally acid, is thought to be more 
grateful, and the fruit is neither so handsome or large, as the one previously 
described. The Bilimbi was introduced from India in 1791; and in its native 
country flowers from May to August. 
