Oxalidaceae · Averrhoa

Bilimbi

Averrhoa bilimbi

Also known as Tree Sorrel, Kamias

TreeMedicinal
Habit
Tree
Found in India
Kerala, Goa, Karnataka & more
Flowering
Throughout the year

Plant Details

Scientific name
Averrhoa bilimbi
Genus
Averrhoa
Habit
Tree
Habitat
Garden plant
Habitat type
Cultivated
Native to
Tropical America, Malaysia
Distribution
Cultivated in tropics
Found in India
Kerala, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Telangana
Flowering & fruiting
Throughout the year
Conservation status
Not Evaluated (NE)

Leaf characters

Leaf arrangement
AlternaterecordedOne leaf per node, arranged in a spiral or zigzag up the stem.Bilimbi leaves are alternate, pinnate, measuring approximately 30–60 cm in length. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Leaf type
Pinnately compoundrecordedLeaflets are arranged in rows along a central stalk, like a feather.Bilimbi leaves are alternate, pinnate, measuring approximately 30–60 cm in length. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Typical of the family

Pinnate venation leaf character
Venation
Pinnate

Characters marked “recorded” are for Bilimbi itself; the rest are typical of the Oxalidaceae family.

Flower & fruit characters

Flower arrangement
PaniclerecordedA branching cluster of clusters.The tree is cauliflorous with 18–68 flowers in panicles that form on the trunk and other branches. — Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Typical of the family

Fruit
Berry

Characters marked “recorded” are for Bilimbi itself; the rest are typical of the Oxalidaceae family — flowering plants only.

Local Names

Hindi
बिलिम्बी Bilimbi
Bengali
বিলিম্বি, বেলেম্বু
Tamil
Pulima, விளி
Telugu
Gommareku, దోసచెట్టు, బిలింబి దోశ
Kannada
ಬಿಲಿಂಬಿ, ಬಿಳಿಂಬಿ Bilimbi, ಬಿಂಬಲಿ Bimbali
Malayalam
Vilumpi, ഇലുമ്പി, പുളിഞ്ചി
Marathi
Bilambi

About Bilimbi

Bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi) belongs to the Oxalidaceae family, where it grows as a tree. In India it has been recorded in Kerala, Goa, Karnataka and 5 other states. It grows in garden plant. It flowers and fruits through much of the year.

Uses

It is grown for parts that are eaten.

Illustration representing the Oxalidaceae family
Botanical family

Oxalidaceae

Wood sorrel family

Bilimbi belongs to the Oxalidaceae family.

The illustration represents the family — not necessarily this exact species.

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Common plant problems

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