Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

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Psidium galapageium Hook. f.

guayabillo, Galapagos guava

Psidium galapageium is a small tree or shrub endemic to the Galápagos Islands, where it grows in forest and transition zones on several islands. It can reach up to 8 meters in height and has smooth, pinkish-gray bark. Its leaves grow in opposite pairs and are small, oval to elliptical, and somewhat leathery. The plant produces solitary white flowers about 1–1.5 cm in diameter, with many fine stamens typical of species in this group. Its fruits are small, round berries that turn yellow when ripe and contain several hard seeds. The fruits are edible and are also eaten by birds and other animals in the islands. The tree is normally covered in moss.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Plantae

Phylum
Magnoliophyta

Class
Magnoliopsida (= Dicotyledoneae)

Order
Myrtales

Family
Myrtaceae

Genus
Psidium

Species
galapageium

Taxon category: Species with Infraspecific Taxa

In Andersson (1855) as Psidium galapagejum.

Origin: Endemic

Status

Endangered

Distribution

Distribution: Endemic species distributed across several islands of the archipelago: San Cristóbal, Santa Cruz, Isabela, Santiago, Fernandina, Pinta, and Floreana.

References

  • Alcivar, W. (1983) Evolution of the behavior of Tectona grandis, Piscidia carthagenensis, Hippomane mancinella in Experimental Plots on Santa Cruz Island. Anual Report 1986-1987. Charles Darwin Research Station. Pg 49-50
  • Andersson, N.J. (1855) Om Galápagos Öarnes Vegetation. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps Akademien Handl., Stockholm: 61-256.
  • Atkinson, I. A. E. (1987) Algunas consideraciones sobre la cartografía y clasificación de la vegetación en las Islas Galápagos. Memorias. Taller de Investigación Botánica y Manejo en Galápagos. Pg. 114- 131.
  • Atkinson, R. Guézou, A. & Jaramillo, P. (2009) Siémbrame en tu jardín - Plantas nativas para jardines en Galápagos. Fundación Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador, 151 pp.
  • Blake, S. Wikelski, M., Cabrera, F., Guézou, A., Silva, M., Sadeghayobi, E., Yackulik, C. & Jaramillo, P. (2011) Gardeners of Galapagos? Seed dispersal by giant tortoises. Journal of Biogeography (submission): 1-41.
  • Cayot, L. J. (1987) Ecology of Giant Tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus)in the Galápagos Islands. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology in the Graduate School of Syracuse University.
  • Christophersen, E. (1932) A Collection of Plants from the Galápagos Islands. Nyt Mag. Naturvidenskaberne 70: 67-95.
  • Davis, S. (1987) El centro mundial para el monitoreo de la conservación y las floras insulares amenazadas. Memorias. Taller sobre investigación Botánica y Manejo en Galápagos. Pg. 304-314
  • De Vries, T. Tupiza, A. (1987) Las dinámicas de Scalesia cordata (Asteraceae)en diferentes habitats de Sierra Negra, Isla Isabela, Galápagos Memorias. Investigacion Botánica y Manejo en Galápagos. Pg. 154-165
  • Escobar, J. (1985) Physical Characteristics, Germination, and Survival at Transplanting of three Timber Species on Santa Cruz Islands Annual Report 1986-1987. Charles Darwin Research Station. Pg 45-47
  • Fosberg, F. R. (1987) Vegetación inalterada en Fernandina, 1964 Memorias. Investigación Botánica y Manejo en Galápagos. Pg. 66-74
  • Guerrero, A. Tye, A. (2009) Darwin's Finches as seed predators and dispersers. The Wilson Journal Of Ornithology 121 (4):752-764, 2009
  • Heleno, R. Blake, S., Jaramillo, P., Traveset, A., Vargas, P. & Nogales, M. (2011) Frugivory and seed dispersal in the Galápagos: what is the state of the art? Integrative Zoology 6: 110-128.
  • Hooker, J.D. (1847) An Enumeration of the Plants of the Galapagos Archipelago; with descriptions of those which are new. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 20: 163-233.
  • Jaramillo, P. (1998) Distribución Espacial de la Vegetación Vascular y Dispersión de Especies Introducidas dentro del Parque Nacional Galápagos. Tesis de Doctorado en Biología, Universidad Central del Ecuador. Especialización ECOLOGIA DE POBLACIONES.
  • Jørgensen, P.M. León-Yánez, S. (eds.) (1999) Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of Ecuador. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 75. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, 1181 pp.
  • Linsley, E.G. Chemsak, J.A. (1966) Cerambycidae of the Galápagos Islands. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci., 4th ser., 33(8): 197-235.
  • Lubin, Y.D. (1984) Changes in the native fauna of the Galápagos Islands following invasion by the little red fire ant, Wasmannia auropunctata. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 21(1-2): 229-242.
  • Lundh, J.P. (1995) Some additional information and comments on the Annotated Check list of Vascular Plants of the Galapagos Islands by Lawesson, Adsersen and Bentley. Charles Darwin Research Station, unpublished.
  • Nowak, J.B. Lawesson, J., Adsersen, H., de Vries, T. (1987) Dos años de estudio de la dinámica de la vegetación posterior al incendio en el sur de Isabela, Islas Galápagos, Ecuador. Memorias. Taller sobre Investigación Botánica y Manejo en Galápagos. Pg. 139-153.
  • Porter, D.M. (1983) Vascular Plants of the Galapagos: Origins and Dispersal. In: Bowman, R.I., Berson, M. & Leviton, A.E. (eds.): Patterns of evolution in Galápagos organisms. Pacific Division, AAAS, San Francisco, California, p. 33-96.
  • Robinson, B.L. (1902) Flora of the Galapagos Islands. Papers from the Hopkins-Stanford Expedition to the Galapgaos Islands. Proc. Amer. Acad. 38(4): 78-270.
  • Rosenberg, D. (1987) Impacto de los herbívoros introducidos sobre el Pacha y de Galápagos (Laterallus spilonotus) Memorias. Investigación Botánica y Manejo en Galápagos. Pg.188-198
  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Missouri Botanical Garden (eds.) (2013) The Plant List, Version 1.1. Published on the Internet; http://www.theplantlist.org/ (accessed 1st January).
  • Schofield, E.K. (1984) Plants of the Galapagos Islands. Field Guide and Travel Journal. Universe Books, New York, 159 pp.
  • Schofield, E.K. (1971) Field Guide to Some Common Galápagos Plants. Lindblad Travel, Inc., NY: 1-42.
  • Stewart, A. (1911) A botanical survey of the Galápagos Islands. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 4th Series, 1: 7-288.
  • Svenson, H.K. (1935) Plants of the Astor Expedition, 1930 (Galapagos and Cocos Islands). Am. J. Bot. 22: 208-277.
  • Tropicos.org. (2017) Database of Missouri Botanical Garden. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 06 Oct 2017 <http://www.tropicos.org
  • Valencia, R. Pitman, N., León-Yánez, S. & Jørgensen, P.M. (2000) Libro Rojo de las Plantas Endémicas del Ecuador. Herbario QCA, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. Ecuador 2000 i–iv, 1–489.
  • Van der Werff, H.H. (1987) Los Helechos como indicadores de tipos de vegetación en las Islas Galápagos. Memorias. Investigación Botánica y Manejo en Galápagos. Pg.88-103
  • Wiggins, I.L. Porter, D.M. (1971) Flora of the Galapagos Islands Standford University Press, Stanford.

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This page should be cited as follows:

"Galapagos Species Database, Psidium galapageium", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=1111. Accessed 31 October 2026.