feijoa

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Guavasteen
• Pineapple Guava

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Acca sellowiana
• Acca sellowiana var. rugosa
• Feijoa coolidegii
• Feijoa obovata
• Feijoa schenckiana
• Feijoa sellowiana f. elongata
• Feijoa sellowiana var. rugosa
• Orthostemon obovatus
• Orthostemon sellowianus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Feijoa sello вина, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Myrtales and the family Myrtaceae. It is further distinguished by its placement within the genus Feijoa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a unique and highly fragmented geographical distribution across two distinct global regions. In East Tropical Africa, it can be found growing within the borders of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Additionally, the species has established a presence within the islands of New Zealand. Within that country, it is distributed across both New Zealand North and New Zealand South. Such a wide separation suggests a very specialized ecological range spanning multiple continents.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Feijoa sellowiaana is defined by its presence in specific Brazilian biomes, primarily occurring within the Campo Limpo and the Floresta Estacional Semi-decidual habitats. This species is adapted to a diverse altitudinal gradient, occupying environments ranging from an elevation of 500 m AMSL to a maximum of 2900 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

Campo Limpo, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual

Life history

The life history of Feijoa sellowiaana is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its persistence across multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its woody stems well above the ground level, a structural adaptation that supports its complex growth habit. Despite its robust stature, it can also exhibit characteristics of a nanophanerophyte depending on the specific environmental conditions and growth stage. Throughout its life cycle, the species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage year-round, providing continuous photosynthetic activity and structural stability within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Feijoa sellowiana is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically developing as a shrub. It is a terrestrial, self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a vine, nor does it exhibit any parasitic behavior, remaining entirely independent in its growth. In terms of stature, the plant typically reaches an average height of 3 m, though it can grow to a maximum height of 4 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Feijoa sellowiaana is characterized by its specific metabolic and nutritional processes, most notably its reliance on the C3 photosynthetic pathway for carbon fixation. This pathway involves the direct carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate by the enzyme RuBisCO, a process typical of many woody evergreen species that thrive in temperate to subtropical environments. In terms of nutrient cycling and symbiotic relationships, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized root nodules containing diazotrophic bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into bioavailable forms; instead, it depends on the uptake of nitrates and ammonium from the soil through its root system.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Feijoa sellowiana is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, relying heavily on animal intermediaries rather than abiotic factors. Specifically, the plant utilizes insect pollination, with bees serving as a primary pollinator type to facilitate the transfer of pollen. A notable reproductive trait of this species is that self-fertilization is absent, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity and successful seed set. The resulting seeds are notably small and uniform in size, with a recorded seed mass mean, maximum, and minimum all measuring 0.00174 g, indicating a highly consistent seed production profile.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass mean:

0.00174 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Feijoa sellowiana has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, seed.

Fruit

1. Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry
2. Acta parasitologica

Leaf

1. Heliyon

Seed

1. Heliyon

Chemicals

Feijoa sellowiana has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ash, Benzyl adenine, CALCIUM, FAT, FLAVONE.

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Benzyl adenine

1. Heliyon

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

FLAVONE

1. The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology

Flavonoid

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

IRON

1. Dr. Duke

Iodides

1. Dr. Duke

MAGNESIUM

1. Dr. Duke

PHOSPHORUS

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Feijoa sellowiana has 158 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Acidulant, Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor, Analgesic, Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker, AntiAGE.

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

AntiAGE

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCTS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCrohn's

1. Dr. Duke

AntiLyme

1. Dr. Duke

AntiMS

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Feijoa sellowiana has 5 reported medicinal uses identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Blood clotting, cancer, myeloid leukemia, platelet aggregation, skin diseases.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations