Psidium amplexicaule

Psidium amplexicaule, which is commonly known as mountain guava, is a species in the family Myrtaceae[2] that is native to the Caribbean. It is rare in a moist limestone forest at 100–600 feet altitude on north coast of Puerto Rico.[3][4] This plant can also be found on islands such as St. Thomas and St. John in the United States Virgin Islands and in Tortola and Virgin Gorda of the British Virgin Islands.[5][6][7]

Psidium amplexicaule
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Psidium
Species:
P. amplexicaule
Binomial name
Psidium amplexicaule
Pers. 1806[1]

Description

Mountain guava is a wild relative of guayaba, commonly known as guava (Psidium guajava). It can be distinguished by opposite and nearly round thick and leathery leaves that are 1½ -2¾ inches in diameter. They are thick/leathery and almost stalkless. Smaller flowers are located at the ends or at the sides of the twigs that are about ½ inch across. Their round fruit is about ¾ inch in diameter, with calyx lobes at their apex. The mountain guava flower color is green and white and blooms in the spring and summertime. The plant is evergreen and can grow in height approximately 2.4 to 3.7 meters (8–12 ft) tall. It was denoted in 1976 as a small tree that is capable of growing to 20 feet tall.[7]

References
  1. "IPNI Plant Name Details". Ipni.org. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
  2. "Psidium amplexicaule Pers". USDA PLANTS. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  3. Sciences, New York Academy of (1930). Scientific Survey of Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Academy. p. 26. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  4. Liogier, A.H.; Martorell, L.F. (2000). Flora of Puerto Rico and Adjacent Islands: A Systematic Synopsis. Ed. de la Univ. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-8477-0369-2. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  5. Britton, N.L. (1918). The Flora of the American Virgin Islands. Contributions from the New York Botanical Garden. New York Botanical Garden. p. 74. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  6. International, Rare Fruit Council (1993). Tropical Fruit News. The Council. p. 24. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  7. Little, E.L.; Woodbury, R.O.; Wadsworth, F.H.; Service, United States. Forest (1976). Flora of Virgin Gorda (British Virgin Islands). USDA Forest Service research paper ITF. Institute of Tropical Forestry. p. 26. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.