Description: A small evergreen tree with compound leaves, small pinkish flowers and distinctive five-ridged fruits that form a star-shaped cross-section.

Identification: Pinnate leaves; small flowers; yellow-green ridged fruits; star-shaped fruit cross-section.

Habitat & distribution: Tropical tree cultivated widely in South and Southeast Asia, including India. Kew records it as native to parts of Malesia and introduced elsewhere.

Uses / importance: Fruits are eaten fresh and used in juices, preserves and culinary preparations.

Taxonomy:
Kingdom – Plantae
Clade – Angiosperms
Clade – Eudicots
Order – Oxalidales
Family – Oxalidaceae
Genus – Averrhoa
Species – A. carambola

Sources: Kew POWO; India Biodiversity Portal.