Psidium cattleianum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Psidium cattleyanum var. littorale
• Psidium cattleyanum var. coriaceum
• Psidium littorale var. longipes
• Guajava buxifolia
• Psidium littorale
• Psidium obovatum
• Psidium coriaceum var. obovatum
• Psidium ferrugineum
• Psidium ubatubense
• Eugenia urceolata
• Eugenia pseudovenosa
• Eugenia oxygona
• Guajava humilis
• Psidium cattleyanum var. pyriformis
• Psidium buxifolium
• Psidium arboreum
• Guajava arborea
• Psidium coriaceum var. grandifolium
• Guajava cattleyana
• Episyzygium oahuense
• Guajava obovata
• Psidium humile
• Psidium cattleyanum f. lucidum
• Psidium coriaceum var. longipes
• Psidium cattleyanum var. purpureum
• Psidium chinense
• Psidium gaudichaudianum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Psidium cattleyanum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Myrtales and the family Myrtaceae. Finally, its taxonomic classification concludes within the genus Psidium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range spanning across several distinct regions. In the Macaronesia archipelago, it can be found growing in the Azores and Madeira. Its distribution extends significantly into West Tropical Africa, specifically within the country of Senegal. Furthermore, the species is present in West-Central Tropical Africa, occupying territories such as Gabon. Finally, it is also documented throughout the Gulf of Guinea Islands within the same West-Central region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Psidium cattleyanum is characterized by its broad adaptability across diverse Brazilian biomes and a wide altitudinal distribution. It thrives within several distinct ecosystems, including the Cerrado (latu sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (both pluvial and mixed types), and the coastal Restinga habitats. This botanical species exhibits significant vertical range plasticity, occupying ecological niches from sea level up to an elevation of 2300 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Ombrófila Mista, Restinga

Genetics

The genetics of Psidium cattleianum are characterized by a specific chromosomal configuration, featuring a total chromosome number of 88. This genetic makeup is organized at a diploid ploidy level, indicated by a ploidy value of 2, which defines the fundamental structural arrangement of its genome.

Chromosome number :

88

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Psidium cattleyanum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and establish a long-term presence in its ecosystem. Functioning as a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody stems, a life form categorization that is further specified as a phanerophyte to denote its structural growth habit. Throughout its developmental stages, it maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present year-round rather than shedding seasonally. This combination of a perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and evergreen foliage defines its biological strategy for survival and continuous metabolic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Psidium cattleyanum is characterized by a woody growth form that can manifest as either a shrub or a tree. As a self-supporting plant, it does not function as a climber or a liana, nor does it exhibit parasitic behavior, maintaining an independent life cycle. The plant is strictly terrestrial, lacking any epiphytic or aquatic characteristics. In terms of stature, it displays significant vertical variability, with a minimum plant height of 1 m, a mean height of 8 m, and a maximum height reaching up to 18 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

18 m

Plant height mean:

8 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Psidium cattleyanum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, indicating a metabolic process optimized for environments where carbon dioxide fixation occurs via the Calvin cycle. Its leaf morphology displays significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3.5 cm to a maximum of 13.5 cm, while leaf widths vary between 3 cm and 6 cm, though some data points suggest a mean width as low as 0.4 cm. The plant exhibits a highly consistent Specific Leaf Area (SLA), with minimum, mean, and maximum values all recorded at 95 cm²/g, suggesting a uniform leaf mass per unit area across its tissues. Additionally, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying on the soil for its nitrogen requirements rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

13.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3.5 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.4 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) min:

95 cm²/g

Reproduction

Reproduction in Psidium cattleianum is driven by bisexual flowers that exhibit a white coloration. These flowers vary in length, ranging from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm. The pollination process is characterized by a biotic syndrome, specifically utilizing insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen; notably, self-fertilization is absent, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruit classified as a berry. These fruits have an average width of 0.3 cm and serve as the vessel for a high volume of seeds, with each fruit containing more than 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.012 g and a mean length of 3.431 mm (ranging from 3.431 mm to 5 mm). In terms of volume, the seeds vary from a minimum of 0.42 mm³ to a maximum of 3.7 mm³, with a mean volume of 2.06 mm³. The dispersal of these seeds is zoochorous, specifically employing an endozoochorous strategy, where animals consume the fleshy fruit and disperse the seeds through their digestive tracts.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower length max:

0.8 cm

Flower length min:

0.3 cm

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

0.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

5 mm

Seed length mean:

3.431 mm

Seed mass mean:

0.012 g

Seed volume max:

3.7 mm³

Seed volume mean:

2.06 mm³

Seed volume min:

0.42 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Psidium cattleyanum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Chemicals

Psidium cattleyanum has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Resins, flavonols.

Flavonoids

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Resins

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

flavonols

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Activities

Psidium cattleyanum has 2 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Clastogenic, Cytotoxic.

Clastogenic

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Cytotoxic

1. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia

Preparations