Yellow Guabiroba
Campomanesia xanthocarpa

Family: Myrtaceae

What it is like

A small to medium sized tree. It grows up to 10-20 m high. The trunk has grooves. The trunk is 30-50 cm across. The leaves are usually unequal on different sides. They are 4-12 cm long and 3-5 cm wide. The flowers occur singly. They are on 2-4 cm long stalks. They are in the axils of leaves. The fruit are greenish-yellow and like a small guava. They are 2-3 cm across. The pulp is sweet.

There are at least 11 Campomanesia species. It is high in Vitamins.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows well in poor soils and can grow in hot, dry locations. It can tolerate some frost. It grows naturally in the hot, dry savannah areas in Brazil. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil (country/location of origin), Paraguay, South America, Uruguay

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw or used in drinks, liqueurs and sweets. They are also used for jam.

It is enjoyed as a fruit. It is a cultivated fruit tree.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The ripe fruit are harvested and then seeds washed out. The seeds are dried in the shade. The fresh seed are planted. They germinate in 15-30 days. Seedlings can be transplanted into the field after 6-7 days.

Plants only grow slowly. The fruiting season can last 6 months.

Its other names

Local names

Gabiroba, Gabirobeira, Guabiroba, Guabirobeira, Guariba, Guavira, Guaviroba, Guabirobeira-do-mato

Synonyms

Campomanesia malifolia O. Berg.; Campomanesia crenata O. Berg.; Campomanesia dusenii Kausel; Campomanesia rhombea var. kleinii Legrand; Campomanesia xanthocarpa var. malifolia (O. Berg.) Legrand; Eugenia xanthocarpa Mart.: