Strawberry guava

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Psidium littorale

Strawberry Guava
Psidium littorale var. cattleianum

Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta
Class:	Magnoliopsida
Subclass:	Rosidae
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Subfamily:	Myrtoideae
Genus:	Psidium
Species:	P. littorale

Binomial name

Psidium littorale
Raddi

Synonyms

Psidium cattleianum Sabine
Psidium chinense
Psidium coriaceum Mart. ex O.Berg
Psidium humile Vell.
Psidium variabile O.Berg

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 Hawaiʻi 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.