Sweet Giant Carambola Seedling

The carambola or “star fruit” (Averrhoa carambola), an elongate, angular fruit composed of 5 carpels with a star-shaped cross section. The tartness is due to calcium oxalate crystals in the flesh which dissolve in the saliva forming oxalic acid. This interesting tropical fruit comes from a pinnately-leaved tree native to Malaysia. The curious 5-angled fruit is usually cooked with sugar. It is also used in salads, as a garnish, and in preserves and chutneys. This species is especially interesting because it belongs to the oxalis family (Oxalidaceae). In fact, the shape of the fruit resembles a giant version of our common southern California weed Oxalis corniculata.