FRUITS OF THE MYRTLE FAMILY 281 



carried to southern China at an early period, presumably by 

 the Portuguese. From China it was taken to Europe, where 

 it was for some time considered to be native to China and hence 

 was called Chinese guava. It has been planted in India, but 

 is not widely known in that country. According to H. F. Mac- 

 millan, in Ceylon it thrives at elevations of 2000 to 4000 feet. 

 In the Mediterranean region it succeeds in southern France, 

 Spain, Algeria, and elsewhere. It is grown in Hawaii, but is 

 not common there. In Mexico, Central America, and the 

 West Indies it is occasionally seen in gardens. In Brazil, its 

 native home, it is nowhere extensively cultivated. In the 

 United States it thrives in both Florida and California. 



Besides the name strawberry guava, the terms Cattley 

 guava and Chinese guava are sometimes applied to this species. 

 In Brazil it is known as aracd da praia and aracd vermelho. 

 Nurserymen in the United States have sent out seedling races 

 or horticultural forms of this species under several botanical 

 names ; the yellow-fruited form (variety lucidum of horticulture) 

 has been listed as Psidium lucidum, P. chinense, and P. sinense. 

 A form distributed in California under the name P. acre, Ten., 

 has proved to be identical with the yellow-fruited strawberry 

 guava, except in its elongated fruits. Otto Berg considered 

 P. Cattleianum and P. littorak, Raddi, synonyms of P. variabile, 

 Berg ; more recently, however, the two last-named species have 

 been included under P. Cattleianum. A large-fruited guava 

 which appears to be nothing more than a form of this species has 

 been distributed in California under the name Psidium Aracd. 

 It is similar to the yellow-fruited strawberry guava, except in 

 its larger and broader leaves, larger fruit, and fewer seeds. 



The fruit is used principally for jelly-making, but is some- 

 times eaten out of hand. An analysis made at the University of 

 California showed the ripe fruit to contain : Water 79.42 per 

 cent, ash 0.77, protein 0.88, fiber 6.58, total sugars 5.06, 

 starch, etc., 6.49, and fat 0.80. 



