Plants
starfruit
Averrhoa carambola L.
Family: Oxalidaceae · Genus: Averrhoa
carambola
Asian fruit tree naturalized in Brazil, with the characteristic star-shape when sliced. EcoAgri lists it in the medium stratum of the 'up to 50 years' bin. Tolerates partial shade and moist soils well; small crown (4 m).
Götsch succession
- Götsch stage
- Secondary II
- Ecological role
- Late secondary
- Primary stratum
- Medium
- Strata
- Medium, High
- Biomass class
- No biomass production
Environment
- Light requirement
- Partial sun
- Water requirement
- High
- Drought tolerance
- Low
- Soil pH range
- 5.5–7
- Preferred soil texture
- Loamy, Clayey
- Hardiness zones
- 10–12
- Frost tolerance
- -1.0 °C
Morphology
- Mature height
- 4–9 m
- Root system
- Taproot
- Root depth
- Deep
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- 30–50 years
- Time to first harvest
- 48 months
Biomes & climate
- Atlantic Forest Naturalized
- Amazon Naturalized
Köppen classes
- Tropical rainforest (Af) Suitable
- Tropical monsoon (Am) Suitable
- Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
Where it fits in a guild
Starfruit takes the Medium stratum in the Secondary II phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How long until the first harvest of starfruit?
The first harvest of starfruit comes around 48 months after planting.
How tall does starfruit grow?
At maturity, starfruit reaches 4–9 m tall.
What stage and stratum does starfruit occupy in a syntropic system?
In a syntropic system, starfruit belongs to the secondary ii stage, occupying the medium stratum.
Functions
Propagation
Seed, Grafting
Citations
- EcoAgri — Organização de algumas espécies vegetais por tempo de vida (placentas) e estrato (Cartilha 'Liberdade e Vida com Agrofloresta') , p. 3 (primary_stratum, gotsch_stage)
- Macêdo (2007) — Cultivo de Fruteiras em Sistemas Agroflorestais (Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental), Quadro 5 , p. 19 (primary_stratum)
- Mundo Ecologia — Pé de Carambola (Averrhoa carambola): raiz e altura (root_system, root_depth, ph_min, ph_max, height_max_m)
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Averrhoa carambola L. (gbif_taxon_key, family, genus)
- Plants of the World Online (Kew) — Averrhoa carambola L. (powo_id, scientific_author)
External references
Continue exploring
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