MacCauGuey: Guavas oF HAWAIIAN ISLANDS 517 
The common guava is an arborescent shrub or small tree, 
sometimes rising to the height of 9-12 m., but usually only 3-6 m. 
The trunk is slender, and usually divides close to the ground into 
a number of sinuous stems. The outer bark, exfoliates in large 
brittle flakes or scales, exposing the beautiful smooth, greenish 
brown inner bark. The mottled trunk of the guava is very attrac- 
tive and has distinct ornamental value. The young branches 
are pubescent and four-angled or winged, The leaves are ovate to 
oblong-elliptic, 8-15 cm. X 5~-7 cm.; apex usually acuminate, 
base rounded; light green, ie ceanadiitg glabrous above, soft 
pubescent beneath. The principal veins are very prominent, 
impressed above and raised below. The petiole is short, 5-7 cm. 
in length. . 
The flowers occur on the branches of recent growth; they are 
white, fragrant, and in clusters of one to three on axillary peduncles 
I-2.5 cm. long. The pedicels are about 1.5 cm. long, and bear 
two small, slender bracts at the upper end. The calyx-tube is 
oblong-ovate, slightly constricted above the ovary. The calyx is 
closed before anthesis, splitting into two to four irregular segments, 
whitish and sparsely hairy within. The petals are broadly oval, 
about 1.5 X 1 cm., thin, delicate, and white. The stamens are 
erect or spreading, in a broad cluster; filaments 1 cm. long, 
anthers pale yellow. An abundance of nectar is produced. 
The fruit is globose, ovoid or pyriform. It is 7-10 cm. long, 
and weighs 140-225 g._ The rind is somewhat rough, and changes 
in color from dark green to brownish yellow and finally to clear, 
deep yellow. The flesh is whitish, yellowish, or dark pink, usually 
the latter, and comprises two regions—an outer layer, just beneath 
the rind, which is firm and finely granular; and a more extensive 
inner mass, of soft, juicy material. The flavor is sweet or some- 
what acid; the distinctive feature is the pronounced musky aroma, 
which is very penetrating. This aroma, which is highly developed — 
in fully mature fruit of good quality, is very agreeable to some 
people and quite unpleasant to others. The seeds are numerous, 
reniform or flattened. : 
The common guava is the chief source of the guava jelly of 
commerce. Large quantities of guava jelly and jam are manu- 
factured locally, by the orientals, Portuguese, and others. Every 
