Cucumber Tree

Posted on December 27, 2010 by Mike

A Cucumber Tree and Fruit in Thailand

A Cucumber Tree and Fruit

The Cucumber Tree is found in SE Asia including Thailand where this photograph was taken. Botanically it is known as the Bilimbi, Averrhoa bilimbi, L., (Oxalidaceae).

The sour green fruit of the Cucumber Tree can be used in cooking and like many plants from the area the leaves are often used in herbal medicines with a wide range of applications.

I found this particular Cucumber Tree growing wild near my home in Thailand.

Equipment: Canon EOS 1000D 55mm

Related posts:

  1. Banyan or Strangler Fig Tree Photo/Image
  2. Kapok Tree Photo/Image
  3. Buddha Head in Tree-Wat Phra Mahathat Ayutthaya Thailand
  4. Rambutan Fruit Photo/Image
  5. Shrine in Tree Roots Wat Bang Kung Photo/Image
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  • Rainfield

    I scratch my head looking at the fruits.

    Did I ever eat this before?

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Rainfield, I scratched my head too. It took me a lot of research to find out the name. As for eating it, I didn’t sample it, but whether its used in food dishes I am unsure.

  • http://www.phanathailife.typepad.com Lawrence

    I’m reliably (?) informed that this tree doesn’t grow up here, Mike. Did you help yourself to some the fruit?

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Lawrence, I don’t think the tree is suited to certain areas of Thailand, in fact when I researched it it does not mention Thailand as a place it grows. However it does grow in Myanmar, given our near location perhaps that’s why I found this example?

  • Diana Demiyah

    I like to eat the fruits with salt or in tumeric soup dishes flavoured with lemon grass, ginger, dried tamarind, red hot chillies and onions all blended together. In Malaysia we called them ‘ Belimbing Buloh” which direct translation will be Bamboo Starfruit.

    • http://www.thailand-blogs.com Mike

      Diana that’s very interesting. Now I have seen what I would call star fruit here, they look star shaped when sliced horizontally, but this species is more pear shaped. Guess they are the same family. BTW the soup sounds delicious.