Myrtaceae FAMILY

Psidium guajava

Edibility

5/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Psidium guajava is an ornamental, evergreen shrub or small tree with an open crown, that grows 3 - 10 metres tall. The short, often crooked bole can be 20 - 30cm in diameter[ 419 Title Brazilian Trees. Volume 1. 4th Edition. Publication Author Lorenzi. H. Publisher Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. Year 2002 ISBN 85-86714-17-8 Description Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best. ]. The tree often has low drooping branches and root suckers[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. A very popular fruit crop, widely eaten in many areas of the world. The plant also has a wide range of traditional medicinal uses and is the source of vaarious commodities. The tree is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas around the world for its edible fruit; it is also an excellent pioneer species for establishing woodland gardens; and is often grown as an ornamental[ 200 Title The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. Publication Author Huxley. A. Publisher MacMillan Press Year 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 Description Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed. , 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. , 404 Title Digital Compendium of Forestry Species of Cambodia Publication Author Website http://www.digitalspecies.blogspot.com Publisher www.digitalspecies.blogspot.com; Phnom Penh Year 2008 ISBN Description A very detailed booklet, produced in PDF format on the internet, giving information on around 100 species of trees. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeS. America from Peru north to Mexico and the Caribbean.

HabitatCommon in disturbed places often forming thickets in pastures, plantations and other similar habitats in the Pacific Islands[ 311 Title Medicinal Plants in the South Pacific Publication Author Publisher WHO Regional Publications, Manilla. Year 1998 ISBN 92-9061-118-9 Description Excellent guide to 102 medicinal herbs of the Pacific Islands, with photographs of each plant and details of their constituents, biological activities and traditional uses. A description of each plant, together with habitat and distribution is given. ].