Brazilian Guava

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Brazilian Guava
• Guinea guava

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Campomanesia multiflora
• Guajava ypanemensis
• Mosiera guineensis
• Myrtus guineensis
• Guajava schiedeana
• Eugenia hauthalii
• Myrtus hauthalii
• Campomanesia tomentosa
• Psidium hasslerianum
• Guajava mollis
• Guajava ooidea
• Guajava polycarpos
• Psidium dichotomum
• Psidium costaricense
• Psidium benthamianum
• Psidium molle var. gracile
• Guajava costaricensis
• Psidium araca
• Psidium molle var. robustum
• Guajava albida
• Psidium monticola var. gracile
• Psidium hians
• Guajava benthamiana
• Psidium laurifolium
• Psidium monticola var. robustum
• Psidium lehmannii
• Guajava laurifolia
• Psidium jollyanum
• Psidium ooideum var. grandifolium
• Psidium polycarpon
• Guajava multiflora
• Psidium ooideum
• Psidium ooideum var. intermedium
• Psidium ooideum var. longipedunculatum
• Guajava hians
• Psidium ooideum var. parvifolium
• Psidium monticola
• Guajava guineensis
• Psidium molle
• Psidium hians var. cuneatum
• Psidium multiflorum
• Psidium ypanemense
• Psidium hians var. truncatum
• Psidium rufinervum
• Psidium sericiflorum
• Psidium schiedeanum
• Psidium schippii
• Psidium rotundifolium

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is further categorized under the order Myrtales and the family Myrtaceae. Ultimately, its scientific designation is placed within the genus Psidium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution spanning several key regions across the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, it can be found specifically within the Ivory Coast. Moving into West-Central Tropical Africa, the species is well-established in Congo, Gabon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Its range further extends southward into the South Tropical Africa region, specifically in Angola. Collectively, these locations highlight the diverse ecological niches that Psidium guineense inhabits.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Psidium guineense is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions and a wide range of ecological niches. It thrives across a variety of habitats, including Anthropic areas, Caatinga (strict sense), High-altitude fields (Campo de Altitude), Campo Rupestre, Carrasco, Cerrado (broad sense), Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forests, and Ombrophilous Forests (Rainforests). This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal distribution, occurring from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 2300 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range of approximately 1500 m AMSL. Such versatility in habitat and elevation allows the plant to occupy various landscapes, ranging from open, xeric formations to more humid, forested ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Caatinga (stricto sensu), Campo de Altitude, Campo Rupestre, Carrasco, Cerrado (lato sensu), Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial)

Life history

The life history of Psidium guineense is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over many years. It functions primarily as a phanerophyte, maintaining its stem structure above the ground, though it can also be classified under the life form of nanophanerophyte depending on the specific growth stage and environmental conditions. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that it retains its foliage consistently rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Psidium guineense is characterized by a woody growth form, manifesting primarily as a shrub. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a liana, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite. In terms of its ecological habit, it is a terrestrial species, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. The plant exhibits significant variation in size, with its height ranging from a minimum of 0.9144 m to a maximum of 7.62 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 7 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7.62 m

Plant height mean:

7 m

Plant height min:

0.9144 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Psidium guineense is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. Its vegetative structure exhibits specific morphological dimensions, particularly regarding the foliage; the leaves possess a length that ranges from a minimum of 3.5 cm to a maximum of 14 cm, while the leaf width varies between a minimum of 2.5 cm and a maximum of 8 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationships required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for its growth.

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length min:

3.5 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width min:

2.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Psidium guineense is characterized by a distinctive flowering and fruiting process involving specific morphological parameters. The plant produces inflorescences that vary significantly in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 35 m. These inflorescences bear flowers that are predominantly white in color. Following pollination, the plant develops fleshy fruits that serve as the vessel for its seeds. The seeds themselves exhibit high uniformity in the recorded data, maintaining a consistent seed volume of 65 mm³ (representing both the minimum, maximum, and mean values) and a stable seed mass of 0.00873 g (also representing the minimum, maximum, and mean values).

Flower colour :

white

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Inflorescence length max:

35 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.03 m

Seed mass mean:

0.00873 g

Seed volume max:

65 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Psidium guineense has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Psidium guineense has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Ethyl butanoate, LIMONENE, Terpenes, sucrose.

Ethyl butanoate

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

LIMONENE

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)

Terpenes

1. Proteomics

sucrose

1. Proteomics

Conditions

Psidium guineense has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Staphylococcus aureus.

Staphylococcus aureus

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Psidium guineense has 1 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include volatile concentrate.

Volatile concentrate

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)