Belimbing hutan
Sarcotheca diversifolia

Family: Oxalidaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows to 30 m high. The trunk is 90 cm across. The trunk is fluted and the buttresses are 2 m high. The bark is reddish brown. The leaves are arranged in spirals. They are papery to thinly leathery. They are oval or sword shaped. There are side leaflets 3-9.5 cm long by 1-4 cm wide with end leaflets 5.5-18 cm long by 2-7 cm wide. The tip has a long point. The base tapers narrowly. There are 1-5 pairs of secondary veins. The stalks of the leaflets are 4-7 mm long. They are jointed. The flowering cluster is made up of 1-4 loosely branched panicles. They are 13.5 cm long. The flowers are pink to red. The fruit are greenish yellow. They are 16-31 mm long by 9-20 mm wide.

There are 11 Sarcotheca species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in the tropical lowland forest and up to 900 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, SE Asia

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten as a vegetable or added to curries.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Fruiting is seasonal with 2 seasons per year.

Its other names

Local names

Iba jantan, Tabarus, Buah piang, Jiwang, Kerapa-kerapa, Perapan macas, Tabaus, Tebarus, Belimbing bulat, Belimbing hutan, Buah picang, Iba jantan, Kadazan, Kandis, Kerapa-kerapa, Perapan macas, Piang, Ubah gandis

Synonyms

Connaropsis acuminata Pearson; Connaropsis diversifolia (Miq.) Kurz.; Connaropsis grandiflora Ridl.; Rourea diversifolia Miq.; Santalodes diversifolium (Miq.) Kuntze; Sarcotheca acuminata (Pearson) Hallier f.; Sarcotheca subtriplinervis Hallier f.;