Bayabas (Psidium guajava L.)

Botanical Description

Guava (Psidium guajava) also known locally as Bayabas is a small tree that can be as much as 12 m tall. It has simple leaves that are oblong to elliptical in shape that has a rounded base and an acute apex, the adaxial is smooth while the abaxial side is pubescent and has pronounced lateral veins. Its flowers are usually solitary but can also occur in groups of small clusters emerging from the axils of the plant, the flowers are 4-merous with white oblong to elliptical petals with a hairy texture on the underside of the petals, the stamens are too numerous to count but only bears 1 style. The fruit is fleshy and pink in the inside with a green rind on the outside, it is shaped like an oval or a pyramid and has 3 mm seeds embedded into flesh, the persistent floral parts give the appearance of the fruit having a "crown".

Uses:

  • Grown widely as a fruit and lauded for its various nutritional benefits as well as for the creation of sweets.

  • Use for traditional medicine to prevent infection due to its supposed antibacterial properties.