What is a cucumber, with what and how to eat it - each of us knows. We also know how cucumber grows - a herbaceous plant, which is the most ancient vegetable crop. But the inhabitants of Indonesia can say with confidence that it grows not only on shrubs. Cucumber tree, also called bilimbi, is the most common plant for Indonesians. How are the fruits of this tree similar or different from the vegetable crop we are used to, we will learn from this article.
Cucumber bilimbi
The bilimbi tree belongs to the Oxalis family (there are also several unrelated species bearing the name of the cucumber tree - dendrositsios and magnolia). In height, it can reach more than 9 meters - starting from one meter from the ground, the trunk branches. The crown of the tree is wide and very rich. The leaves are reminiscent of acacia leaves - just as feathery and beautiful.
The flowers of the tree during flowering compare favorably against the background of greenery - bright red, they open 5 petals, becoming similar tostars. In addition, the flowers emit a delicate aroma, which always attracts many different pollinators. Interestingly, the flowers bloom not on the branches of the tree, but right on the trunk - cucumber fruits also appear there. They actually resemble ordinary cucumbers, only they differ in size - a little more in length (from the average cucumber fruit) and in diameter. So, we basically learned what a cucumber tree is.
Sour fruits
Bilimbi fruits are clearly visible among the foliage. Individually, the leaves have a pale green color, but, gathering into one complex leaf, shade each other with a dark green tone. The unique quality of this tree is the ability to retain moisture in the tissues of the trunk, which helps the plant to safely survive the driest times. In addition, the retained moisture has a positive effect on the abundance of milky juice, which is used for economic purposes. Cucumber fruits grow in clusters - like bananas, although they look more like small zucchini.
The maximum length of the fruit can be no more than 10 centimeters. If you taste it, the first thing you feel is acid, comparable in taste to citric or lime. But seeds in fruits are very rare - from a whole bunch of fruits with seeds, one or two fruits will fall on the strength.
Some interesting facts about bilimbi
Above we learned where the cucumber tree grows, but you can meet it not only in Indonesia, but also in India, Brazil, Colombia. Bilimbi is widely used in farmingfarms. Due to the unique ability to retain moisture for a long time, the tissues of the tree are filled with viscous milky juice, which greatly softens the pulp of the wood. During a particularly dry period, farmers feed their livestock with juicy pulp, which allows them to safely survive difficult times. Another unusual property possessed by the cucumber tree is its leaves. More precisely, their ability to close at night, again retaining their internal moisture and allowing the fruits to enjoy the night wind and occasional rain. The foliage opens with the first rays of the sun, keeping the fruits from excessive sunlight.
Use of bilimbi fruit
Despite the fact that the pulp of bilimbi fruits is juicy and crispy, they are practically not used fresh for food due to high acidity. But as a seasoning, they are suitable for almost any dish. They are generously added when cooking rice, meat, fish, beans, marinades and even soft drinks are ideal.
Jelly turns out to be very tasty, only the fruits must first be pierced in several places and allowed to lie in heavily s alted water to eliminate excess acidity. Bilimbi (cucumber tree) is also known as an ideal supplier of candied fruits. Its cucumber fruits are pre-candied and dried, turning into a delicious sweet and sour treat. Moreover, you can eat candied fruits both as part of dishes and separately. Of great importance is the area where the cucumber tree grows (the types of trees are directly related to the taste of the fruit). For example, there isthose whose taste resembles a mixture of apple and plum, and there are varieties that give off the sweetness of grapes. However, not only the fruits are widely applicable in everyday life. Due to the high content of oxalic acid, the fruits are also used for household needs.
What is done with fruits on the farm
Cucumber tree, or rather its derivatives, are widely used in the household. Special products are prepared from tropical fruits, with the help of which they subsequently bleach fabrics, clean dirty surfaces, or rub brass and silver items, which then become just like new, returning their original luster. In perfumery, bilimbi fruits are used as a skin cleanser - their juice is added in the manufacture of soap.
But for doctors, the cucumber tree is a storehouse of useful ingredients. Bilimbi leaves help cleanse the wound of poison - you just have to attach them to the bitten place. A decoction of the leaves or bark is an ideal remedy for coughs, joint pains and rheumatism. In medicine, even the flowers of the plant are used - they are an excellent remedy for diarrhea. Many African tribes consider the bilimbi tree sacred, and the most important rituals for the natives are held on the fruits.
Bilimbi as a house plant
As strange as it may sound, you can grow a cucumber tree at home. The main thing you need to know is that a tree can be germinated from a seed, but only fresh, extracted immediately after harvesting the fruit. It is very important that the soil is sufficiently moist and fertilized. It will be nice if you mix itwith river sand. The seed is germinated in a container - the sprout will need a lot of heat and sun. Then transplanted into a pot.
Abundant watering and warm air (at least 20 degrees) are very important. Bilimbi must be fed with mineral fertilizers, as well as constantly sprayed. In winter, the land should be watered a little less, but with constancy, so that there is no aridity. Top dressing stops with the onset of cold weather. Spring is pruning time. Withered branches are carefully removed from the bilimbi, and the crown is carefully dressed up so that the young leaves can breathe at full strength. Bilimbi also blooms at home, but it is still recommended to transplant the tree into the garden in the summer.
