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Psidium guajava
| Family Name: | Myrtaceae |
| Common Name: | Guava, Jambu Batu, Jambu Biji, Common Guava, Yellow Guava, Apple Guava, Jambu Kampuchia, 番石榴, 芭乐 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 10 m |
| Tree or Palm – Trunk Diameter | 25 cm |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical America |
|---|
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Small tree up to 10 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Smooth, green leaves are elliptic with short petioles (7-15 cm long, 3-5 cm wide). The leaf margin is entire, having smooth edges and not toothed. The upper leaf surface is smooth, while the lower surface is slightly downy. |
| Stems | The branch tips are 4-sided and have a velvety texture. |
| Flowers | Lightly fragant, white flowers (2.5 cm wide) are composed of 4-5 white petals and roughly 250 white stamens (male reproductive structure) with light yellow anthers (pollen-bearing part of the stamens). The flowers are solitary or clustered in the leaf axil (the space between the upper leaf surface and the stem). |
| Fruit | Light yellow fruits are round, egg-shaped or pear-shaped. |
| Cultivation | This species is tolerant of a wide range of soil types from clayey to sandy soils and from acidic to alkaline soils (pH 4.5-9.4). Well-draining soil is ideal, but not essential. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Fruits Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The fruit is consumed raw or processed to make juice, sherbet and jelly. It is rich in Vitamins A and C, folic acid and minerals. Its high pectin content makes it ideal for making candies and various types of jams and jellies. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
|---|---|
| Thematic Landscaping | Economic Garden |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Bee)) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) (Vertebrates (Other Mammal), Vertebrates (Human)) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast to Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting (Hardwood) |
| Seed / Spore Germination Duration | 14 days to 21 days |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Leathery |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oval, Elliptical, Oblong) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
| Foliar Base | Acute |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1081 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2374 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
