74 



height of 20 ft. and is conical in outline, tut its timber is 

 not held in estimation. When in full iDloora, the "bright pink 

 stamens nf its blossoms afford a delightful contrast to the 

 "brilliant green of the foliage, and give it a splendid appear- 

 ance. It may then "be known at a considerable distance "by the 

 color of the ground around its "base ; for this to the extent 

 of twelve or fourteen feet in circumference, is coromonly of a 

 uniform red, from the fallen stamens, for days together. 



Culture 



The tree grows almost wild and needs no particular culti- 

 vation, 



(ruava, Psidium Guyava (Linn.) 



"Deacr ipt ion and Hah it at 



A small tree pu"bescent on the yo\ing "branches. Leaves on 

 Yery short petioles, ovate or o"blong, and usually accuminate, 

 3-4 in, long, glabrous or nearly so above, softly pubescent 

 beneath and with the principal nerves prominent. Peduncles 

 axillary, l/2 in,, 1-3 flowered ; buds ovoid in the adnate 

 part, the free part also ovoid but larger and more or less 

 pointed. Petals broad, l/2 in, in diameter. Pruit globose 

 or pear-shaped. "Indigenous in Mexico and possibly in Other 

 parts of tropical America, cultivated arid naturalized, in most 

 tropical countries. In India the Guava is cultivated almost 

 everywhere except in the northwestern corner of the Punjab, 



