Averrhoa carambola

Fruits of star fruit ( Averrhoa carambola )

The star fruit ( Averrhoa carambola ), also called carambola or carambola, is next to the cucumber tree is one of two species of the genus of the cucumber tree ( Averrhoa ). They belong to the family of sorrel plants ( Oxalidaceae ) and come from Southeast Asia, but are grown in the tropics and subtropics worldwide.

Description

Vegetative characteristics

The star fruit grow on trees. Mostly stature heights of up to 10 meters, reached in exceptional cases up to 25 meters and strong branch The leaves are on the outside, 2 to 3 mm thick, finely hairy branches at regular intervals. The compound, pinnate leaves are 10-20 cm long and are available at 15 to 35 mm long petioles that are finely tomentose and thickened at the base. The leaves consist of six to 15 pinnate leaves, these are at the top 5-8 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, at the base of the leaves only 1.5 to 3 × 1-2 cm wide. They are ovate to oblong - ovate, short acuminate at the tip and cut off at the base or rounded. At the leaf veins are hairy on both sides finely tomentose.

Inflorescences and flowers

The up to 8 cm long inflorescences are in the leaf axils or kauliflor ( stammblütig ) directly on the trunk or branch. There are cymes that are at racemose panicles or in groups. The peduncle is up to 1 cm long, the pedicels 3-4 mm.

The hermaphrodite, radial symmetry flowers are up to 8 mm long and fünfzählig. The five elongated, fused at their base sepals are 2.5 to 3.5 mm long and 1-2 mm wide. The spatula and something in the middle fused petals are purple to purple or white. They have a length of 6-9 mm and are 1.5 to 3 mm wide, on the inside they are papillose - glandular.

Five long, fertile stamens with 2 to 2.5 mm long stamens surrounded five shorter, sterile stamens ( staminodes ), which usually do not form a dust bag. The stamp is formed from 3 to 4 mm long and cylindrical elliptical.

Fruits

The fruits are 8 to 13 cm long with a diameter berries 5-6 cm. They are elliptic - oblong to ovate and are clearly divided lengthwise into five ridges and valleys. The flesh is yellowish translucent and slightly sour to sweet.

Use

If you cut the fruit crosswise into slices, you get decorative stars that are used in the garnishing desserts, salads and cocktails. The fruits contain 89-90 % water and contain, in addition 0.38 % protein, 0.08 % fat and 9.38 % carbohydrates a high content of vitamins A and C, calcium and iron. In Chinese home, the fruit is often compared to the very acidic Bilimbi, the fruit of the cucumber tree ( Averrhoa bilimbi ). In Chinese medicine, the crushed fruit is considered a good wound healing agents and the juice should be thirst quenching antipyretic and especially.

Star fruit poisoning

In patients with renal insufficiency ( chronic renal failure ), it occurs relatively frequently after eating carambola symptoms of poisoning with hiccups, vomiting, impaired consciousness, muscle weakness, numbness of the limbs, paralysis and seizures. Patients who are dialyzed immediately recover without consequences. Patients who are not on dialysis, often die. The neurotoxin Caramboxin in the carambola, a phenylalanine -like compound, has now been identified. A significant inhibition of several cytochromes in the liver by Karambolesaft, including cytochrome P450, up to 70 % of its activity could be detected. Thus, the effect of several drugs is extended and detoxification steps by these cytochromes are slowed. In animal studies of impaired cardiac function was observed.