Named for William Cattley, plant enthusiast and importer. See Nomenclature.

Guava – an invasive weed in some countries!

Literature search for vitamin C content of this guava is inconclusive - giving a weight of between 100 - 450 gms for one fruit, and a Vitamin C level of between 35 and 90mgms Vitamin C per 100gm. 10mgms vitamin C daily will 'cure' scurvy, and a daily intake to build up vitamin C stores in adults is recommended to be around 100-120mgm per day. Other guava species, particularly horticultural cultivars grown for fruit production may have 400mgm Vitamin C per 100gm. Lemons Citrus x limon, have a vitamin C content of around 35mgm per 100gm

In traditional herbal medicine the fruit and leaves are used against haemorrhage, diarrhoea and colic. Leaves are a source of essential oils produced after distillation [1-8].

Received as Psidium cattleyanum. Not a recognized name by the RHS.

The name recognised by botanists is Psidium cattleyanum according to the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (wcsp). A long list of synonyms is also given and Psidium cattleianum is not included. The RCP Garden policy is to use the horticulturally accepted names (ie by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

This plant is named after William Cattley (1788-1835) a British grain merchant working with Russia. He imported plants from the tropics. By chance an orchid genus, new to science, was imported by William Cattley and named Cattleya in 1824 by the great British botanist John Lindley (1799-1865) who had worked for him in 1821.

Sweet and aromatic fruit - raw or cooked. The fruit can be used in jellies, jams, custards or in drinks.

Interesting allelopathic properties are attributed to its roots which inhibit the growth of other plants that would otherwise compete. A very invasive species that is difficult to eradicate.