Psidium pulcherrimum
Beautiful Guava
Psidium pulcherrimum
Psidium pulcherrimum is a recently described species of Psidium spp.. It is found within the North Eastern parts of Brazil extending into the caatinga. The Caatinga is an arid region that is characterized by xeric and thorny shrublands. This region and it’s morphology would indicate that this species is likely resistant to drought conditions and will thrive in other arid regions.
The latin world pulcherrimum means very beautiful in latin. This species is indeed a very beautiful representation of the Psidium genus. It resembles the very highly sought after Eugenia angustissima with it’s very fine leaves almost resembling a Rosemary plant (Rosmarinus officinalis). The fruit appears to be rather small and covered in pellucid dots, indicating a high level of aromatics. There isn’t much info on the quality of the fruit itself. This is a super beautiful and exciting species that is a must for the Psidium and Myrtaceae collector.
Family: Myrtaceae
Name: Psidium pulcherrimum
Common Name / Native Name: Beautiful Guava
Range: Northeastern Brazil, Caatinga
Sun: Full sun/part shade
Height: 8 feet
Width: ~6 feet
Foliage: Beautiful large green pubescent foliage
Flower: Large flowers in clusters resulting in heavy pollination
Fruit: Small green/yellow fruits with very few seeds
Soil Type/ pH: Unknown
USDA Climate Zones: Unknown
Cold Hardiness: Undetermined
Edibility: No verifiable information
Age to maturity: Unknown
Sources:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12228-019-09600-0/figures/1