Starfruit
(Averrhoa Carambola L)
Starfruit
(Averrhoa Carambola L)
Starfruit is a fruit-bearing tree native to Malaysia, then spread widely to various other tropical countries around the world, including Indonesia. In Indonesia, starfruit is native to Central Java, East Java, and Maluku. It is generally cultivated as a fruit tree, but is also planted as a shade tree and ornamental in gardens. The fruit can be consumed fresh in salads, processed fruit dishes, and drinks. Furthermore, consuming starfruit is believed to provide benefits for skin and hair beauty, as it is packed with various active compounds that function as antioxidants. Several parts of the starfruit plant also have health benefits and have long been used in several countries such as Malaysia, China, Brazil, and India in traditional medicine.
Starfruit can grow well in lowlands up to 500 meters above sea level. It prefers open areas with 45–50% sunlight, but is also tolerant of shade and moderate rainfall. Starfruit is suitable for planting in almost all soil types. It prefers fertile, loose soil rich in organic matter, with good aeration and drainage, and a soil acidity level (pH) of 5.5–7.5.
Taproot.
The stem is woody (lignosus), cylindrical, grows upright, dark brown, with thin bark and a rough surface. It has numerous branches, sloping upward and horizontally, forming a shady tree.
The leaves are compound, long-stalked, dark green, ovate, with thin leaf blades, a tapering tip (acuminatus), a blunt base (obtussus), with even edges, pinnate veins, no stipules, and smooth upper and lower surfaces.
The flowers are compound, with five stellate petals, a light purple corolla, approximately 8 mm long, and the corolla is attached (gamopetalus). The branches and flower buds are dark red.
The fruit is 5-lobed, star-shaped, 10-12 cm long, fleshy and juicy, and has a sweet-sour flavor. Young fruit is green, turning yellow as it matures.
The seeds are flat, numerous, and blackish-brown.
Generative propagation is done by seed, but this method is not recommended because it almost always produces offspring that are different from the parent (genetic segregation). Generative propagation is usually only intended to produce rootstock seedlings (onderstam) for later use in vegetative propagation.
Vegetative propagation (grafting, budding, layering, and grafting).
Harvest period: The first harvest is generally 3-4 years after planting.
Laxative, worm medicine, headache, chicken pox, ringworm, high blood pressure and cholesterol, treat kidney stones, reduce fever, reduce blood sugar levels, relieve coughs, rheumatism, treat asthma, colic and jaundice, stop bleeding and relieve hemorrhoid bleeding, has activity as an antioxidant.
Alkaloid, glycosides, phenol, tanin, flavonoid, saponin, diterpen, asam amino, asam askorbat, asam oksalat, asam tartarat, asam galat, asam sitrat, α-ketoglutaric acid, benzoquinone, proanthocyanidin, flavon C-glikosida, carambolaflavon, dua alkil fenol diglukosida baru, carambolasida K dan L, empat fenilpropanoid, (+)-isolariciresinol 9-O-ß-D-glucoside, (+)-lyoniresinol 9-O-ß-D-glucoside, (-)- lyoniresinol 9-O-ß-D-glucoside, 1-O-feruloyl-ß-D-glucose, 1-O-vanilloyl-ß-D-glucose, tecomin, koaburaside, naphthoquinone, (+)-cryptosporin.
Kidney stones
Cut 3-5 sweet starfruit into pieces.
Boil until boiling.
Add honey to taste.
Then drink.
Socfindo Conservation. 2021. Belimbing https://www.socfindoconservation.co.id/plant/683 (24-04-2023)