CARAMBOLA, STARFRUIT, BLIMBING MANIS

This is a popular fruit tree of the orient. It grows up to 10 meters high with many branches. The leaves are compound in nature. Flowers are produced in panicle on the twigs by the leaves all the year round. The tiny lilac flowers are beautiful. The fruits are deeply ridged; a cross section is star-shaped hence the common name starfruit. The length of the fruit varies from 5 to 17-.5 cm. The surface is smooth, shiny, and waxy. Immature fruits are green, turning yellow or orange at maturity. The yellow flesh is usually soft and juicy and tastes from sour to very sweet. Seeds are flat and often embedded in the centre. The fruit can be put to various used; the sweet varieties are for dessert, the sour ones for jelly, jam and juice. They are rich in vitamin c. Lately starfruits are produced more abundantly in tin tailings. These areas with well drained soil and added high organic fertilizers are very suitable for their growth. In Malaysia they are quite common in kampong gardens and backyards. They are readily propagated by seeds but will not be true to type; therefore budding is usually carried out to maintain quality. No known horticultural varieties have been named but those grown around Sungai Besi and Serdang in the State of Selangor are famous for their quality. There are distinct differences in their quality, flavor and color.