Averrhoa L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 428 (1753)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Vietnam to New Guinea.

Descriptions

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution
A small genus of five species with three species recorded from New Guinea: Averrhoa carambola L., Averrhoa bilimbi L. and A. dolichocarpa Rugayah & Sunarti. The first two are widely cultivated across South-East Asia for their fruit (carambola/star fruit and bilimbing) and may have escaped from cultivation (although specimens of A. bilimbi have been collected from ‘natural’ habitats – see below), and the third species is a wild species on the northern parts of New Guinea (Yapen Island, Cycloops Mts., and the Sepik region).
Morphology General Habit
Trees or shrubs to 12 m
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules absent. Leaves spirally arranged to terminally clustered, estipulate, imparipinnate, alternate or subopposite; leaflets nearly opposite, margins entire, subopposite, subsessile, terminal leaflet largest
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences axillary or rami- and cauliflorous, laxly cymose
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers bisexual, regular, 5-merous, usually heteromorphic, heterostylous, usually small or medium-sized, fragrant
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 5, red, semifleshy, basally connate Petals 5, white, pink, or purple, contorted, free or coherent above the claw
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 10, in 2 whorls of 5; outer whorl usually with shorter filaments, opposite petals; filaments connate near base; anthers 2-celled, with longitudinal slits; ovary superior, locules 5; placentation axile, ovules (2–)3–7 per cell; styles 5
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a berry, oblong, yellowish green and semitransparent in vivo, red when dry; usually 5-lobed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds
Seeds elliptic, flattened.
Ecology
Averrhoa is a lowland taxon from primary and secondary habitats: specimens of A. bilimbi have been collected from regrowth forest, swamp margins but also as a ‘substage rain forest tree’; A. carambola has been collected from regenerating areas and old plantations; from sea level to 100 m elevation.
Recognition
The genus can be recognised by the imparipinnate leaves (always with entire margins), the relatively small pink to reddish 5-merous flowers with 10 stamens in two whorls, 5 distinct styles and the yellow and semi-transparent, ribbed fruit.
[TONG]

Sources

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Trees of New Guinea

    • Trees of New Guinea
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0