Psidium cattleyanum

Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile.<br>Photographer: John Sawyer, Date taken: 01/05/2010, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

Psidium cattleianum.<br>Photographer: John Smith-Dodsworth, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.

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Common name

purple guava

Family

Myrtaceae

Authority

Psidium cattleyanum Sabine

Flora category

Vascular – Exotic

Structural class

Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons

Conservation status

Not applicable

Habitat

Terrestrial.

Features

Large shrub or tree to 6 m high. Trunk smooth, pale brown. Leaves smooth, oval to 4-5 cm long. Round fruit to 2 cm diameter becoming dark purple or sometimes yellow. edible.

Manaaki Whenua Online Interactive Key

Key to the Myrtaceae of New Zealand

Similar taxa

P. cattleyanum can be distinguished from P. guajava by its glabrous leaves and the absence of prominent veins on either leaf surface.

Flowering

January, February, March

Flower colours

White

Fruiting

June-August

Life cycle

Perennial. Reproduces from seed. Pig/bird dispersed (Cronk and Fuller).

Threats

This taxon may be prone to myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) is an invasive fungus which threatens myrtle species - learn more myrtlerust.org.nz

Year naturalised

1977

Origin

S Brazil

Reason for introduction

Agricultural

Tolerances

Shade tolerant (Cronk and Fuller).

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