Psidium guajava

Psidium guajava

Family: Myrtaceae

Common name: Guava tree

The guava tree is a fast-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with a shallow root system. It has low, drooping branches that emerge from the base and a slender trunk, covered with smooth green to reddish-brown bark that peels off in thin flakes. The leaves are opposite, and the flowers are white, either solitary or in small clusters of 2 to 3, borne in the axils of the branches. The fruit is a fleshy, pyriform or ovoid berry, with skin ranging from yellowish to orange. The flesh can be white, yellow, pink, or red, varying in taste from sour to sweet, and is juicy and aromatic. The fruit contains a variable number of seeds.

Guava has been traditionally used as a medicinal plant in many cultures around the world. Its uses are wide-ranging, from treating gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhea to treating wounds, dental caries, and coughs. The guava fruit is edible and can be eaten raw or cooked, while the leaves are often used as fodder for animals.