Common Name: Guavaberry

General Information

Myrciaria floribunda is an especially attractive, very slow-growing, small evergreen tree with an elongated crown, that can grow 12 - 20 metres tall[, ]. The straight, cylindrical bole can be 30 - 40cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild, mainly for local use of its fruit, but also for medicines and wood. A very attractive plant, it is often it also cultivated in gardens, both for its fruit and as an ornamental. It is a natural pioneer species, establishing in open places and providing a suitable habitat for rainforest trees to become established.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, the Guyanas; C. America - Panama to southern Mexico; Caribbean.

Habitat

Dry or moist coastal woodlands to elevations of 300 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	12.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of warm, tropical lowlands in relatively dry to moist regions[].
Prefers a fertile, deep, humus-rich soil in a sunny position[, ]. Plants can succeed in a variety of soils, though growth is poor if the pH is high[]. They have a high requirement for iron[]. Established plants are drought tolerant[].
Newly planted young trees grow away quite slowly[].
Plants take 6 - 8 years from seed until they produce their first crop of fruit[].
The plant responds well to coppicing and can survive forest fires by resprouting from the roots[].

Edible Uses

The fruit is edible[]. A succulent, sweet pulp[]. The sweet, orange flesh is strongly, aromatically, fragrant and makes a delicious, pungently-flavoured jam or juice[, ]. The dark red to black globose fruit is about 13mm in diameter[, ].

Medicinal

The inner bark is boiled, and the water used for treating dermatoses[]. Juice from macerated inner bark is used as an anti-fungal or for treating sores[].

The inner bark and leaves are boiled, and the water used as an antiseptic[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Myrciaria floribunda is a natural pioneer species. It is a common shrub that invades open ground throughout Amazonia, often being found in abandoned pasture where it grows quickly and provides suitable conditions for the establishment of other rainforest trees and shrubs[].

Other Uses

The wood is straight-grained, average texture, moderately heavy, hard, with a low susceptibility to wood eating organisms[]. It is used for general lumber[].
The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a short viability and so is best sown as soon as it is ripe. Sow in a semi-shaded position in a nursery seedbed. Germination rates are quite low, with the seed sprouting within 40 - 50 days[]. The seedlings grow away quite slowly[].
Cuttings
Side-veneer grafting

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