Guava is a small tree, up to 33 ft tall, with
spreading branches, easily recognized because of its smooth, thin,
copper-colored bark that flakes off, showing the greenish layer
beneath; and also because of the attractive, "bony" aspect of its trunk
which may in time attain a diameter of 10 in. Faintly fragrant white
flowers, borne singly or in small clusters in the leaf axils, are 2.5
across, with 4 or 5 white petals which are quickly shed, and a
prominent tuft of about very many white stamens tipped with pale-yellow
anthers. The fruit, exuding a strong, sweet, musky odor when ripe, may
be round, ovoid, or pear-shaped, 5-10 cm long, with 4 or 5 protruding
sepals at the top, and thin, light-yellow skin, frequently blushed with
pink. Guava is native to the Caribbean, Central America and South
America, widely cultivated across the world.
Medicinal uses: Fresh leaves of about 500 gms
are boiled in 200ml of water for 10 minutes. The decoction is drenched
twice daily for 4-5 days to cattle as cure for dysentery.
Identification credit: Thingnam Girija
Photographed in Imphal, Manipur.
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The flower labeled Guava is ...