Psidium cattleianum

An evergreen shrub reaching 6 m tall. Hardy to UK zone 10, frost tender. Year-round foliage with May flowers. Hermaphrodite. Prefers light sandy and medium loamy soils with good drainage; grows in poor soil. Tolerates mildly acidic, neutral, basic, and very acidic soil pH. Requires full sun; adapts to dry or moist conditions.

Description

An evergreen shrub. It grows 3-6 m high. The young shoots are rounded. They can be hairy or smooth. The leaf stalk is 4-15 mm long. Leaves are dark green and shiny above and 4-6 cm x 2-3 cm. The edges of the leaves curl backwards. The leaves are wedge shaped at the base. There are several glands under the leaf. Flowers are white and singly in the axils of leaves. The flower stalk is 3-7 mm long. It has small round red or purplish fruit. The flesh is white. There are several hard seeds inside. The seeds are 3 mm long by 2.5 mm wide. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and works well in jellies, jams, custards, and drinks. It has a sweet, aromatic, agreeably acid-sweet flavour — more pronounced than that of yellow strawberry guava, though without the muskiness of common guava. The fruit is about 4cm in diameter. Fruit and processed products are traded locally across the tropics and subtropics, and cultivation can be commercially significant, as demonstrated on Réunion. Trials have also been conducted in Spain. Unlike Psidium guajava, the fruit is not rich in vitamin C, containing only 11–50mg per 100g.

Traditional Uses

Fruit are eaten raw or used in jams and jellies.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Leaves contain compounds active against antibiotic-resistant strains of Gram-positive bacteria that are significant human pathogens. They contain flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and essential oils, primarily b-caryophyllene. Fruit and leaves are used in traditional medicine to treat haemorrhage, diarrhoea, and colic. The leaves are also a source of essential oils obtained by distillation.

Distribution

A tropical plant. It is native to Brazil. It does quite well in highland areas in the tropics. It grows from sea level to 1,900 m. It is more frost resistant than common guava. It can be grown on a range of soils. It is fairly drought resistant. It suits hardiness zones 8-12. In Hobart Botanical gardens. Melbourne Botanical gardens. In Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Bermuda, Brazil*, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Central America, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, Fiji, Ghana, Guyana, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mexico, Mozambique, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, North America, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, Philippines, Reunion, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Uruguay, USA, Vanuatu, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

Cultivation

Plants are grown by seed, suckers or cuttings. It can also be grown by layering. Pruning helps fruit production. It can be pruned to form a hedge. The ripe fruit are harvested and the seed removed and washed in running water then dried in the shade. Seed will remain viable for 4 months. Fresh seed should be planted and they germinate in 20-40 days.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a warm greenhouse. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and grow on in the greenhouse for at least the first winter. If trialling plants outdoors, plant out in summer and provide protection from winter cold for at least the first two winters. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can be taken in July/August in a frame.

Other Uses

Can be grown as a fruiting hedge in warm temperate climates. Cultivated as an ornamental garden or hedge tree throughout the tropics and subtropics, valued for its slow growth, attractive dark glossy foliage, and tasty fruit. Also used as a fuel source, a source of essential oil, and as poultry forage. Suitable as a windbreak.

Production

Plants grow slowly. Fruit are produced after 2 years. Fruit production is seasonal. There are probably two crops per year. Fruit matures in 60-90 days.

Other Information

A cultivated fruit tree. At present not widely grown in Papua New Guinea, but fruit are liked and it will probably get wider acceptance.

Notes

It can become a weed in some places eg Hawaii. There are about 150 Psidium species. It can be invasive.

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

Araca, Araca-amarelo, Araca-vermelho, Bella seebai, Cattley guava, Cheena pera, Goavitsinahy, Guayabita fresa, Jambu stroberi, Konda jamipandu, Malam perakka, Mpera-ngombe, Mpera, Pahadi pijuli, Pahari payara, Pohon jambu stroberi, Porpay, Purple guava, Purple strawberry guava, Quwawa ni vavalagi, Red Strawberry guava, Seemai koyya

References (74)

• Abbiw, D.K., 1990, Useful Plants of Ghana. West African uses of wild and cultivated plants. Intermediate Technology Publications and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. p 42
• Ambasta S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 498
• Arora, R. K., 2014, Diversity in Underutilized Plant Species - An Asia-Pacific Perspective. Bioversity International. p 83
• Ashton, M. S., et al 1997, A Field Guide to the Common Trees and Shrubs of Sri Lanka. WHT Publications Ltd. pdf p 295 (As Psidium littorale)
• Barwick, M., 2004, Tropical and Subtropical Trees. A Worldwide Encyclopedic Guide. Thames and Hudson p 348

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