English/ Common name- Bilimbi Tree
Local name- ಬಿಳಿಂಬಿ
Botanical name- Averrhoa Bilimbi
Appearance- It Is a fruit with a pale green waxy skin, and crunchy with a watery flesh, usually small or medium-sized tree growing 150-30 ft. The fruit is ellipsoidal, elongated, measuring about 4 – 10 cm, and sometimes faintly 5-angled. The skin, smooth to slightly bumpy, thin, and waxy turning from light green to yellowish-green when ripe. The flesh is crisp and the juice is sour and extremely acidic and therefore not typically consumed as fresh fruit by itself.
Origin- Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives
Conditions for growth- It is cultivated throughout the warmer regions of the world it requires two to three months of the dry season to remain productive
Uses- The uncooked bilimbi is prepared as a relish and served with rice and beans in Costa Rica.
Common Remedies-
- For cough (Part of the tree used - Fruit) : Take 3 bilimbi fruit, and sugar bring the mixture to boil then steam for several hours. Drink the mixture on an empty stomach in the morning.
- Acne treatment (Part of the tree used - Fruit) : Put the crushed bilimbi on the affected skin and leave it for a few minutes. Rinse it with clean water
