Wild Guava Tree: The Detailed Guide To Description And Uses

wild guava

In this article, you are going to learn the description, uses, and other important facts about wild guava.

Overview

When discussing about wild guava, it is important to understand that are different types of wild guavas.

Some are from the same family and genus while others are completely from different families and genus with common guava but they share almost the same characteristics with common guava.

For instance, Careya arborea is one of the common examples of a plant that grows throughout the Indian forest, which shares many characteristics with common guava.

However, Careya arborea does not belong to the family Myrtaceae and Genus Psidium.

In this article, we will be discussing the edible and non-edible wild guavas.

Careya arborea

This is a tree that is native to the Indian subcontinent, Afghanistan, and Indochina.

It is scientifically known as Careya arborea and commonly known in India as Kumbhi and slow Match tree in English.

Careya arborea grows almost everywhere in the Indian forests and grasslands with characteristics similar to that of guava and hence the name wild guava.

Trunk and Root Morphology

wild guava
wild guava
  • Careya arborea is a decideous plant typically of not more than 20m tall
  • It is an evergreen, but the leaves turn red in the cold season
  • The bark is flaky, fissured, and dark grey
  • The plant is wide spreading
  • The stem contains an astrigent gum

Leaf Morphology

wild guava
wild guava
  • The leaves are green but turn to red during the cold season
  • Leaves are simple
  • The leaves are spirally arranged at the apices of twigs, which sometimes form a cluster
  • The leaves are broadly obovate, tapering at base, margin toothed, caducous, and stipules small

Flower Morphology

wild guava flower
guava flower
  • The flowers are arranged in erect raceme at the end of branches
  • The plant posses a white and large flower
  • The floral parts of the flower posses 4 sepals and 4 petals that are free
  • The plant possesses many stamens that are disk annular and connate at the base
  • The plant possesses an inferior vary that has 4-5 locular with many venues in 2 raw per cells
  • The plant possesses one style

Fruit Morphology

wild guava fruit
wild guava fruit
  • Careya arborea posses very large drupe fruit
  • The fruits  contain numerous seeds
  • The fruits are globose to depressed globose in shape, which is crowned by the persistent sepals

Availability

Careya arborea is availble mostly during or between April to May.

Habitat

Careya arborea is bellieved to be originated from Lalbagh and Bangalore.

Economic Impoortance

The fibrous bark of Careya arborea was used during the colonial times in India to substitute Beech bark in Matchlocks.

The flowers and young leaves of Careya arborea are usually eaten in Thailand as salad greens. The safety for the consumption of fruits and seeds of Careya arborea is not approved. This is because the young seeds may be poisonous when eaten.

Wild Guava

Wild guava is common tropical guava but the seeds of the plant get dispersed (by man, animals, and birds) and grow in the forests.

Trunk and Root Morphology

  • It is a small woody tree usuaaly 10-15m in height
  • possessesa slender trunk with 20cm diameter
  • The bark is flaky and smooth
  • Branches are low spreading
  • Roots produce suckers

Leaf Morphology

  • The leaves are simple and with hairs
  • Leaf margin is entire
  • Leaves are arranged in opposite on the stems
  • The leaf blades are oval in shape with pointed tips

Flower Morphology

  • Flowers are borne singly in leaf axils
  • Floral parts contain 4-5 green sepals and 4-5 white petals
  • Stamens are numerous
  • possesses a stigma that is topped by one style

Fruit Morphology

  • The fruits are round
  • Fruits are usually 3-5cm  or high in diameter
  • Fruits are green and large
  • The fruits are firm
  • The pulp is white in color with numerous large seeds
  • The fruits have fragrant aroma
  • Taste range from sour to slighly tang

Economic Importance

Unlike the fruits of Careya arborea, wild guava fruits can be eaten right from the tree. The fruits and seeds can also be processed into different forms such as jams, smoothies, jellies, and juices.

find more information about the description of common guava here and here

Takeaway

Guavas are of different species. Some belong to the same family and genus with common guava while others belong to different families and genus with guava.

The most important point is that when you want to take wild guava, you need to be extra careful. This is because some wild guavas have fruits and seeds that are poisonous.

Conclusion

We have discussed the features of Careya arborea, which is commonly known as wild guava. We compared its characteristics with that of common guava that is dispersed and grown in the wild. We also looked at their differences and economic importance.

You may also like reading:

>Guava Leaf Tea: The Detailed Guide To Preparation, Uses, And Side Effects

>Nutrition Facts Of Guava And Health Benefits

>Guava Diseases: Distribution, Symptoms, And Management

>Guava Pests: Symptoms And Management

References

Wikipedia contributors. (2020, March 19). Careya arborea. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 11:06, June 26, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Careya_arborea&oldid=946278201