CHAP. II. DESSERT FRUITS. 263 



the matter is still uncertain, I notice, however, the Psidium 

 Cattleianum is comprised in the List of Plants in the Calcutta 

 Botanical Gardens recently given by Dr. Anderson. 



Psidium pumilum. 



A moderate-sized shrub, native of India ; at once recognisable 

 by the smallness of its leaves, resembling somewhat those of a 

 Myrtle. Dr. Voigt states that it bears in the Bains, and that 

 its fruit is of a delicious flavour. That, however, which I have 

 gathered has been nothing better than a hard uneatable berry. 



Psidium Guiniense. 



GUINEA GUAVA. 



A shrub of the height of eight to twelve feet ; native of Guinea ; 

 said by Don to bear a "berry fulvous, rather pubescent, red 

 inside, about the size of a Nutmeg, and of an exquisite taste." 



There have been plants for a great many years past in the 

 Calcutta Botanical Gardens, where, as Dr. Voigt states, they 

 bore fruit in the Rain season. They are, however, not known to 

 bear fruit there now. 



Psidium polycarpon. 



MANY-FRUITED GUAVA. 



A moderate-sized shrub, said to be a native of Trinidad, and 

 described by Don as bearing a fruit of delicious taste. The fruit 

 produced by the plant to which the name is assigned in the 

 Gardens of the Agri-Horticultural Society is a poor, turpentine- 

 flavoured berry, quite worthless ; pale yellow, pear-shaped, and 

 of the size of a Plum. The plant blossoms at the end of March, 

 and ripens its fruit at the beginning of July. 



Propagated by seed. 



Psidium sp. 



STRAWBERRY GUAVA. 



This species, the name of which I have been unable to ascer- 

 tain, is met with in the Gardens of the Agri-Horticultural Society, 

 as well as in some few others in the neighbourhood of Calcutta. 

 It is a small, low shrub, with large, dark, pendulous, shining 

 leaves, and ripens its crop about the end of September, after 



