315- PSIDIUM GUAJAVA GuAVA. 27 



has become naturalized in southern Florida and southern California. 

 The name is from a Greek word referring to the edible nature of the 

 fruit. 



315. PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L. 



GUAVA. 



Ger., G ua Java. Fr., Goyavier. Sp., Guajaba. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS : Leaves mostly oblong, 3-5 in. long, with petioles 

 about ~*/4 in. long, obtuse to acute at apex, obtuse to rounded at base, entire or 

 very slightly crenate glabrous dark green above, paler puberulent and with 

 prominent midrib and arcuate veins beneath. Flowers appearing early in the 

 spring and irregularly during the summer in the axils of the leaves, solitary 

 or few together; calyx lobes about ^ in. long; petals longer, white. Fruit 

 subglobose or pyriform, y$ inches in diameter, yellow or pinkish, somewhat 

 astringent and of pleasant acidulous flavor. 



A small tree occasionally attaining the height of 15 or 20 ft. (5m.), 

 with trunk 8 or 9 in. (o.2om.) in diameter at base, but trees of these 

 dimensions are rare and it is generally considerably smaller. The bark 



Pof trunk is thin and of a rich purple-brown color. It exfoliates in 

 large thin papery scales which curl up and drop off, leaving a brownish 

 white inner bark darkening on (exposure to the color of the older bark. 



HABITAT. A tropical American tree which has become naturalized 

 in southern Florida and' southern California, where it may be found 

 growing naturally in fields and thickets. 



PHYSICAL PROPERTIES. Wood heavy, hard, strong, elastic, of very 

 close grain, with exceedingly fine medullary rays and uniformly dis- 

 tributed fine open ducts. It is of a light reddish brown color with 

 lighter sap-wood. 



USES. The wood is said to be used in the tropics to a limited 

 extent for tool-handles, agricultural implements, etc., but with us the 

 almost sole value of the tree is in its fruit. That is highly esteemed 



I.nd is growing in popularity. It is more highly prized generally for 

 he manufacture of a choice jelly and preserves than to be eaten fresh 

 rom the hand, as it is considered to many tastes rather too tart when 

 resh, but that quality appeals to some tastes. 



