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Plant identification => Plant identification => Topic started by: MikeHardman on August 22, 2018, 09:39:40 PM

Title: small evergreen shrub, somewhat Ficus-like, ID'd by JohnJ as Psidium cattleianum
Post by: MikeHardman on August 22, 2018, 09:39:40 PM

Any ideas?
This small shrub grows in a garden near the coast near Neo Chorio, western Cyprus.

Mike

Title: Re: small evergreen shrub, somewhat Ficus-like...
Post by: John J on August 23, 2018, 04:40:48 AM

Mike, try Psidium cattleianum, Strawberry Guava.

Title: Re: small evergreen shrub, somewhat Ficus-like, ID'd by JohnJ as Psidium cattleianum
Post by: John J on August 23, 2018, 08:11:59 AM

The first photo is our Strawberry Guava. The second is of a plant that we grew from seed collected in Crete about 8 years ago. It's much taller than the Strawberry Guava and produces larger, sweeter fruit. I haven't been able to positively identify it. The third photo is of our common guava. All photos taken today.

Title: Re: small evergreen shrub, somewhat Ficus-like, ID'd by JohnJ as Psidium cattleianum
Post by: MikeHardman on August 23, 2018, 08:07:38 PM

Excellent!
Thanks very much John, for the ID and the photos.

Now I have read-up on it...
The most invasive plant in Hawaii, and very attractive to fruit flies.
I'm guessing that in our drier climate it might not be quite such a problem, but I don't particularly want to foster fruit flies, or end up with a plant that demands water. So I think I'll leave it where it is for now (it will have to be removed as part of a renovation project) and I will also ignore the seeds.

Mike

Title: Re: small evergreen shrub, somewhat Ficus-like, ID'd by JohnJ as Psidium cattleianum
Post by: Charithea on August 24, 2018, 01:43:43 PM

Mike our 'strawberry guave' has been surviving on little water, very tasty fruit and not fruit flies as yet. Enjoy the fruit for a bit and if they go 'rogue' pull them out.

Title: Re: small evergreen shrub, somewhat Ficus-like, ID'd by JohnJ as Psidium cattleianum
Post by: MikeHardman on August 25, 2018, 07:18:36 AM

Thanks John - invaluable first-hand experience, as ever; you may have convinced me // Mike

Title: Re: small evergreen shrub, somewhat Ficus-like, ID'd by JohnJ as Psidium cattleianum
Post by: John J on August 25, 2018, 10:13:07 AM

Bit of a mixed bag of a day with Mike thanking me for advice that was supplied by my wife while my friend, Umbrian, accuses me of 'lurking' on a different thread!  :o

Title: Re: small evergreen shrub, somewhat Ficus-like, ID'd by JohnJ as Psidium cattleianum
Post by: MikeHardman on August 25, 2018, 09:08:28 PM

Cheer up John - "tomorrow, tomorrow's another day..."

I guess the strawberry guava is an example of an alternative crop or food plant.
Perhaps wandering off-topic, this is in that same vein
- http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180821-are-forgotten-crops-the-future-of-food.
Thanks to my friend John Dobbie for pointing it out to me.

It is not particularly mediterranean, but my reason for mentioning it is the principle as much as the particular.

The article mentions in particular:
- kedondong berries - Spondias dulcis, also known as ambarella;
  tropical, probably not suitable for a mediterranean climate
- bambara groundnut - Vigna subterranea;
  tropical, and prefers acidic soil, methinks unsuitable for
  a mediterranean climate and many med. soils
- moringa - Moringa oleifera; 
   I have just started a new topic on this
   - http://www.mgsforum.org/smf/index.php?topic=2641.0

Mike

Title: Re: small evergreen shrub, somewhat Ficus-like, ID'd by JohnJ as Psidium cattleianum
Post by: Umbrian on August 26, 2018, 06:19:26 AM

Nice to see some humour on the Forum John! Have Gary coming today but fear we shall be lurking in the house as heavy storms started yesterday and are threatened all day today. Mustn't complain though - we need the rain.