Common Name: Bilimbi

General Information

Averrhoa bilimbi is an attractive, long-lived evergreen shrub or tree with a low, sparse crown, sometimes growing up to 15 metres tall, but more commonly only 2 - 3 metres tall. The short bole can be 30cm in diameter[, , ].
A multipurpose plant providing food, medicines and a range of other commodities. The tree is often cultivated for its fruit in many areas of the tropics[]. It is most commonly found as a garden plant and is only occasionally grown commercially[, ]. At present, it is difficult to see the development of established plantations in Thailand. This is due to the lack of major market demand[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - Indonesia in the Moluccas.

Habitat

Lowland primary and secondary forests, usually along rivers[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	3.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the humid tropical lowlands, where it can also be found at elevations up to 1,200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 23 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 36°c[]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -3°c or lower, but young growth is severely damaged at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 2,300mm, but tolerates 700 - 4,000mm[]. The trees are found to grow well at low altitudes from sea level up to 500 metres in areas having an even distribution of rainfall throughout the year[]. They are also quite tolerant to dry periods[], growing well when there is a 2 - 3 month dry season[]. The trees are very susceptible to frost injury[].
Prefers a position in full sun, making rather slow growth in shady or semi-shady situations[]. The plant thrives well on any soil type provided it is well drained[]. However, for best performance, it should be grown in deep, fertile, sandy loam or clay loam soils with plenty of organic matter[]. Grows best in a position sheltered from strong winds[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 5 - 8.3[].
Trees can commence cropping when 5 - 6 years old from seed[]. Grafted trees can commence bearing when 2 - 3 years old[].
A single tree can often yield many hundreds of fruits[]. Yields from 50 - 150 kilos per tree have been reported[].
Flowers and fruits are produced throughout most of the year, although there are normally one or two pronounced harvesting seasons, each about 2 months long[]. Flowering and fruiting occurs especially during the drier part of the year[, ].

Edible Uses

The fruit is occasionally eaten raw with salt or sliced thin and added to salads[], though most people find it too acid and instead use it in curries, sauces etc[]. When ripe it is crunchy, juicy, acidic, and contains a few, flattened, non-arillate seeds[, ]. It is used extensively as a souring agent for many native dishes[]. It may also be processed into candies or made into chutneys, relishes and pickles306]. The fruit is a good source of vitamin C[]. The greenish yellow, translucent fruits are somewhat cylindrical or slightly pentagonal in shape, varying from 5 - 10cm in length[].

Flowers[]. Very acid[]. Made into conserves[].

Medicinal

The leaves can be used to cure syphilis when taken internally, either fresh or fermented[]. Three leaves are put in water and the liquid is drunk daily as a remedy for high blood pressure[].
When applied externally as a paste or poultice, the leaves prevent itching[, , ]. A decoction of leaves is used to cure inflammation of the rectum and the paste is applied for mumps, rheumatism and pimples[].

An infusion of the flowers is used for coughs[].

The fruit is an astringent, stomachic and refrigerant and its juice is made into syrup as a cooling drink for reducing fever[]. It is antiscorbutic and is used in some slight cases of haemorrhage from the bowels as well as the stomach and internal haemorrhage[]. It is also used to cure beriberi, biliousness and coughs[]. One or two pickled fruits are eaten for controlling diarrhoea[].
A rotten fruit is rubbed into the skin to treat fungal diseases[].

Other Uses

The raw juice of the fruit is an effective remover of stains or spots on clothes, rust stains on brassware and stubborn food particles on enamelware[, ].

The fruits are used as mordants in the preparation of an orange dye for silk fabrics[].
A purple dye from the petals is used as an indicator in chemistry[].

The wood is white, soft but tough, even-grained, and weighs 35 lbs/cu ft. It is seldom available in a sufficient size to be used for carpentry[, ].
The wood is used for fuel[, ].

Propagation

Seed - although trees are usually propagated by seeds, this is generally discouraged when growing as a fruit crop since great variation occurs amongst the seedlings[].
Marcotting. Usually only done on a garden basis since it is a laborious and slow process and the layers take a long time to root[].
Budding and grafting. Shield budding is successfully practised in the Philippines and is recommended for large scale propagation.
Root cutting may be possible, since it has been observed that severed roots of taling pling trees are able to produce adventitious growths that are able to establish themselves as independent plants[].

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