Habit: Averrhoa carambola grows a shrub to tree up to 5 m in height. The pinnately compound leaves are arranged alternately, up to 11 leaflets. Each leaflet to 7 cm in length, ovate to oblong with an acuminate leaflet apex.
The complete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in few flowered panicles. The calyx has 5 green, unfused sepals. The pedicel and calyx are pubescent. The corolla has 5 reddish-pink, fused at their base petals. There are 5 fused at their base stamens and a superior, pubescent ovary with 5 locules with many ovules. The fruit is a 5-ribbed berry turning yellow at maturity.
Habitat: Averrhoa carambola grows in Human Altered environments (yards, gardens, farms).
Distribution: Averrhoa carambola is NOT native to the Lucayan Archipelago but occurs throughout many of the northern island groupings. It is native to Indonesia or Malaysia but that is not entirely certain.
Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Averrhoa carambola is not known to have been used medicinally in the Bahamas.
It is grown as a fruit tree for its sweet and tangy, ribbed, fruits. When cut in cross section the fruit slices are star shaped.