Known to the Portuguese as the goiaba and to the Spanish as the guayaba, the guava (Psidium guajava Linnaeus) was introduced around the world's tropics early in the history of European colonialism. A popular tropical fruit, many of its names are cognates—words phonetically related to its Caribbean names—guayava in Taino and guajava in Tupi. Guava cultivation is so widespread that its nativity is uncertain. All the species of Psidium are native to the American tropics and guavas are now thought to have originated somewhere in southern Mexico or Central America.

Guava flowers have either four or five white petals and typical of the Myrtaceae or myrtle family, numerous stamens. Depending upon the variety, the fruits may be round, oblong or pear-shaped and have white, yellow, pink or light red flesh when ripe. The fruit is used for jellies, pastes, chutneys, confections, and to flavor ice cream. The unripe fruit, bark, roots and leaves are high in tannins; this astringent quality has been used medicinally for treating dysentery, vomiting, wounds, skin ulcers and toothaches. Guava tannins are also employed to tan leather and dye fabrics.

Guavas are not picky as to soil growing equally well on sands, clays, and loams. Rainfall appears the limiting factor; the trees need about 100 centimeters (40 inches) of rain per year and tolerate a dry season of 4 to 5 months. The roots sucker freely and the plants regenerate rapidly after a fire.

With the help of birds, bats, feral pigs and free-ranging cattle, guavas escaped cultivation. These escapees form dense thickets called guayabales taking over natural habitats as well as pastures and croplands. Consequently, guavas are listed as exotic pest plants and home cultivation of the trees is discouraged.

(Compiled from: Origins, A Short Etymological Dictionary of Modern English, Eric Partridge, Greenwich House, NY, 1983; Hortus Third, Staff of the L.H. Bailey Hortorium, Cornell University, Macmillan Publishing, 1976; "Guava", Fruits of Warm Climates, Julia F. Morton, Miami, 1987 and "Exotic Guavas in Florida, but–", Ken Langeland and David Hall, Wildland Weeds, Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, Vol. 3, No. 3, Summer 2000)