Botanical Name : Averrhoa bilimbi Linn
Family : Averrhoaceae
Introduction :
Averrhoa in the memory of an Arabic physician in Spain; carambola from its Indian name karmarak
Names in different Indian languages :
English : Cucumber tree,tree sorrel,belimbingbuloh
Malayalam : Bilibi, chemmeenpuli, irumbampuli, vilimbi
Sanskrit : Duurvaa, Karmaranga
Tamil : pulicha
Synonyms :
Karmarak, Karmar, Dharaphala, Peetapliala Mugdarphala, Mugdarak, Karmarang, Nagaphala
Morphology :
This is a tree having a height of 7 to 10 m. It has many branches and lanceolate leaves.
Flowers are reddish pink in colour.
Fruits contain 4 to 8 seeds. When raw, they are green and when dried, they become yellow coloured).
Seeds are oval and flat.
Distribution & Habitat :
Throughout India
Properties :
Fruit – Guna: laghu, ruksha;
Rasa: amla, madhur, kashaya:
Vipak : amla:
Veerya : ushna (when raw) and
madhur Vipaka and sheeta veerya when ripe.
Karma : kapha vatha samana
Ripe fruit :
Sweet
Madhur Vipaka
Sheeta Veerya
Pittashaman
Pittaja diseases
Karma – kapha pitha samana
Indication :
A syrup made from the fruits is used in febrile excitement, haemorrhages and internal haemorrhoids; also in diarrhoea, bilious colic and hepatitis. The fruit is used for scurvy. An infusion of flowers is given for cough.
Uses : An infusion of flowers is given for cough.
