Scientific Name :Psidium guajava Vernacular Name :Igiti cy’ipera Family name : Myrtaceae Geographic Distribution :All over the tropic, everywhere in Rwanda
Botanical Description Psidium guajava is a small evergreen tree growing to 3-10 m in height. The trunk is thin and has a scaly bark, branches fairly low. Branches are often pruned in orchards to get a regularly shaped tree. The small branches are square in section and carry two opposite rows of oval and opposite leaves of 15 cm long, side veins clear and parallel. The flowers are white 1-3 together many stamens. The fruits are . fleshy berries, green when not ripe; becoming yellowish when ripe; rounded up to 6 cm long; calyx lobes persistant.
Medicinal Use In Rwanda, leaves are used to treat diarrhoea.
Psidium guajava has been used in traditional medicine in many cultures throughout Central America, The Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. It is used for inflammation, diabetes, hypertension, caries , wounds, pain relief, fever diarrhea, rheumatism, lung diseases, and ulcers.
Other Use The fruit is eaten fresh, it is also used for making jellies, jams, and Juice. The wood is used as fuel and tool handles. Birds, and especially bats, love his fruit, and distribute the seeds
