Brazilian guava
Psidium guineense
Synonyms: Psidium albidum, Psidium molle var. gracile, Psidium minus, Guajava guineensis, Guajava multiflora, Psidium jollyanum, Guajava benthamiana, Psidium rotundifolium, Guajava hians, Psidium polycarpon, Psidium schippii, Psidium cordillerense, Mosiera guineensis, Campomanesia tomentosa, Psidium glandulosum, Psidium monticola var. robustum, Psidium ooideum, Psidium lehmannii, Psidium tomasense, Psidium macrophyllum, Psidium ooideum var. grandifolium, Psidium ooideum var. longipedunculatum, Psidium dichotomum, Psidium hians var. truncatum, Psidium molle var. robustum, Campomanesia multiflora, Guajava ooidea, Guajava ypanemensis, Psidium ypanemense, Eugenia hauthalii, Psidium hians, Guajava polycarpa, Guajava mollis, Psidium benthamianum, Guajava albida, Guajava costaricensis, Psidium schiedeanum, Psidium araca, Myrtus hauthalii, Psidium rufinervum, Myrtus guineensis, Psidium multiflorum, Psidium ooideum var. intermedium, Psidium monticola var. gracile, Guajava schiedeana, Psidium ooideum var. parvifolium, Psidium sericiflorum, Guajava laurifolia, Psidium atiraense, Psidium hians var. cuneatum, Psidium costaricense, Psidium molle, Psidium monticola, Psidium laurifolium
Western Herbalism Properties
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Botanical Description
Psidium guineense, commonly known as Brazilian guava, Guinea guava or sour guava, is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Myrtaceae native to tropical America from southern Mexico through Central America and the Caribbean to most of tropical South America. It typically grows 1 to 6 metres tall with smooth, peeling brown to reddish bark and four-angled young twigs clothed in short hairs. The leaves are opposite, elliptic to oblong, 5 to 14 centimetres long, leathery, dark green and slightly rough above and densely soft-hairy beneath, with prominent pinnate venation. Solitary or paired white flowers about 2 to 3 centimetres across have four to five spreading petals and numerous showy white stamens with yellow anthers. The fruit is a globose to slightly pear-shaped yellow berry 1.5 to 3 centimetres across with thin skin, pale yellow to whitish acidic flesh and many small hard seeds; it has a stronger, more resinous and acid flavour than the cultivated guava P. guajava. The species is naturalised in tropical Africa and Asia.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
Throughout tropical Latin America and the Caribbean a decoction or infusion of the leaves and young shoots of Psidium guineense is taken for diarrhoea and dysentery and used as a wash for skin sores and ulcers, in a pattern of use closely paralleling that of the related common guava (Morton, 1981; Grandtner & Chevrette, 2013).
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.