Averrhoa carambola (Star Fruit)

Native from central and eastern Java to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia, this tropical evergreen tree usually grows about 22 to 33 feet tall. Its pink to lavender flowers produce juicy, ribbed fruits that form stars when sliced crosswise. Sweet and tart varieties are grown for fresh eating, garnishes, preserves, and sauces. Its leaflets fold when disturbed. It can be propagated by seed, budding, or grafting. Widely cultivated in warm climates, it contains oxalates and a neurotoxin that can cause serious poisoning in people with kidney disease. Photographed in the Valley of Cauca, Colombia.