Strawberry guava

taxobox
name = "Psidium littorale"

---

image_caption = strawberry guava "Psidium littorale" var. "cattleianum"
status = NE
status_system = iucn3.1
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
unranked_ordo = Rosids
ordo = Myrtales
familia = Myrtaceae
subfamilia = Myrtoideae
genus = "Psidium"
species = "P. littorale"
binomial = "Psidium littorale"
binomial_authority = Raddi
synonyms = "Psidium cattleianum" Sabine
"Psidium chinense"
"Psidium coriaceum" Mart. ex O.Berg
"Psidium humile" Vell.
"Psidium variabile" O.Berg
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Cattley guava or Peruvian guava ("Psidium littorale"; the old name "P. cattleianum" is still used very often) is a small tree (2-6 m tall), bearing small red or yellow fruit, which are somewhat sour but sometimes eaten or made into jam. The red-fruited strawberry guava is "Psidium littorale" var. "cattleianum". The yellow-fruited "Psidium littorale" var. "littorale" is known as lemon guava, and in Hawaii as "waiawī". Native to Brazil and adjacent tropical South America, it is closely related to common guava ("P. guajava"), and like that species is a widespread, highly invasive species in tropical areas, especially Hawaiʻi. It tends to form dense, monotypic stands which prevent regrowth of native species, and is very difficult to eradicate. As an invasive species, it is sometimes erroneously called "Chinese guava".

The fruit can be eaten by cutting them in half and scooping out the pulp and seeds. Strawberry guavas taste like a passionfruit mixed with strawberry; lemon guavas have a more acidic and spicier flavor. The seeds are small and white in colour and can be roasted as a substitute for coffee. Its leaves may be brewed for tea. The skin is also edible and tastes a bit like rose petals but is best removed for a sweeter flavour.

External links

* [http://www.hear.org/species/psidium_cattleianum/ "Psidium cattleianum" (strawberry guava)] information from the [http://www.hear.org/ HEAR project]
* [http://aoki2.si.gunma-u.ac.jp/BotanicalGarden/PICTs/Psidium-littorale.jpeg Photo of ripening lemon guavas] . Retrieved 2007-NOV-25.