Bilimbi Cucumber Tree

Cucumber is a rare but easy to grow exotic crop. Its other name is a sorrel tree, or Averoa bilimbi, the Sorrel family. A close relative of the plant is Aerochorambol.

Bilimbi cucumber tree

Distribution

The region of natural growth is the tropics and subtropics.The species is popular and widespread in India, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, M Alaysia, in Zanzibar.

In 1793, Averoa bilimbi was first brought to Jamaica from Timor and the Moluccas, which are considered its homeland, then for several years it was imported to Central and South America under the name Mimbro. The end of the 19th century began commercial cultivation in Queensland. Today, there are cucumber plantations in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Trinidad, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, Nicaragua, Guyana, Suriname, Hawaii and South Florida.

Characteristics of the plant

Appearance and structure

This is a broad-leaved deciduous tree. In the subtropics, the height of the cucumber tree usually does not exceed 10-15 m, in the tropics it reaches 35 m. In the greenhouse, the height of the plant is on average 4-5 m.

Small, fragrant, fragrant yellowish-green or purple with dark purple marks flowers are collected in small panicle inflorescences. Peduncles grow directly from the trunk. The flower consists of 5 petals.

The leaves are complex, 30-60 cm long, formed by 11-37 opposite leaves 2-10 cm long each.

Ribbed fruits, 5-8 cm long, in shape resemble cucumbers, collected in brushes, like a banana. The flesh is very acidic, jelly-like, with small seeds, crunchy, bright green in an unripe form, turns yellow when ripe. The peel is glossy, very thin and delicate.

Inside each fruit are 6-7 rounded flat brown seeds with a diameter of about 6 mm.

Growing Features

Young seedlings are sensitive to cold and wind, the temperature for growing should be at least 30 ° C. The grown specimens become more resilient over time.

Cucumber tree grows well on rich, drained soils in areas with regular rains throughout the year, therefore, it hardly occurs in places with seasonal rainfall.

Reproduction occurs mainly seeds, however, Wester successfully propagated seedlings by air layering 3.8-5 cm long.

The shelf life of the cucumber tree crop does not exceed 5 days.

Application in cooking

The variety has found application in the cuisines of different countries:

• Sauce made from fresh fruit in Costa Rica is popular As a seasoning for rice and beans, and sometimes for fish and meat.
• In India, ripe fruits are added to curry instead of mango when making chutney, often mixed with sweet tamarind. In the regions of Kerala and Goa, with the addition of salt and spices, they make fish sauce.
• In Indonesia, Bilimbi is dried, such a dessert is called Asam Sunti.
• In Malaysia, they traditionally make sweet jam.
• In the Seychelles, sauce is served for shark meat.

Lemonade is made from fruits

Bilimbi contains a large amount of vitamin C, fresh juice is used to make lemonade. To reduce acid, before cooking, the fruits are soaked overnight in water and then boiled with sugar. Jam or jelly is obtained depending on the proportion.

Candied flowers are prepared from flowers with sugar. Half-ripened exotic cucumbers salt and pickle. The finished product is stored for 3 months. Quick salting is carried out in boiling brine.

Application in traditional medicine

• Filipinos use paste from Bilimbi leaves for itching, swelling, skin rashes, and rheumatism.
• Indians – from the bites of poisonous insects. The infusion of the leaves is drunk as a tonic.A decoction of flowers is effective for thrush and sore throat.
• Malaysians use plant juice as eye drops.

Preparations from plant materials in the form of decoctions, infusions, powder or paste previously used in traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of scurvy, inflammation of the rectum, obesity and dermatoses.

Juice containing a large amount of oxalic acid bleaches tissues well, cleans rust spots.

The pulp contains useful substances:

• oxalic acid,
• vitamin C,
• coal odes,
• proteins,
• amino acids,
• tannins,
• essential oils,
• flavonoids.

In the leaves found:

• tannins,
• alkaloids,
• flavonoids,
• saponins,
• cardiac glycosides,
• carbohydrates,
• phenols.

Oxalic acid stimulates the functioning of muscles and the nervous system has bactericidal properties. In large quantities, it can cause the development of urolithiasis.

Tannins are natural sorbents that remove carcinogens from the body.

Essential oils restore the water-salt balance, provide the body with useful minerals and vitamins.

Flavonoids affect the functioning of enzymes in the nervous and circulatory systems.

Saponins are used in the preparation of tonic, expectorant and sedative drugs.

Cardiac glycosides support the normal functioning of the heart.

Phenols have a disinfecting effect on the respiratory tract and the genitourinary system.

Alkaloids have a tonic and analgesic effect, positively affect the nervous system .

The Institute of Nicaragua has scientifically proven the antimicrobial effective action of leaf extract on the dangerous bacteria Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus ochraceous and Cryptococcus neoformans.

Conclusion

Bilimbi cucumber is an exotic decorative leaf plant, useful plant material for making delicious desserts and sauces.