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Strike back against the invasives
Strawberry Guava: Help control it by eating and using it
By Barbara Fahs
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 2:24 PM HST
he strawberry guava, or waiawi 'ula-'ula, are looking a lot like Christmas right now, with their red fruit ripening and dropping to the ground. But what can we do with them, and the wood of their branches? We can use this resource that grows in abundance.
Strawberry guava is considered the most serious invasive plant in moist rainforest areas of the windward sides of all the main Hawaiian Islands, second only to Miconia. Because it is so invasive, it has choked out many native Hawaiian forest areas.
The Department of Agriculture has permission to release a scale insect from Brazil, Tectococcus ovatus Hempel (Homoptera: Eriococcidae), to control this invasive species. However, concern exists about the introduction of another insect. Research shows that this insect is harmless to other plants, including the common yellow guava. According to the USDA's Draft Environmental Assessment, dated March 2008, "Tectococcus ovatus is a highly specific insect that produces leaf galls on strawberry guava in its native range in Brazil. The purpose of establishing this insect species in Hawai'i is to reduce growth and reproduction of strawberry guava, thereby limiting this weed's ability to invade native forests and reducing an important source of agricultural pest fruit flies."
Public meetings were held during 2008 and emotions ran high. Why destroy a food that has been used since its introduction in 1825? But how do we save our fragile native ecosystems?
A revised environmental assessment is currently in the works and will appear in March 2009: It will take community concerns into account. It will be followed by more public meetings, which will allow residents to voice their comments and concerns.
In the meantime, we can use the delicious fruit and wood that the guava provides.
Fruit flies often get the guavas, so to eat one, open it first and check for worms. Pick the fruit with a pole pruner while it is slightly green, and then ripen it indoors where flies cannot get to it. When the guavas ripen, put them through a juicer or food mill: You'll get a puree, which you can make into smoothies, jam or jelly, or mix with sweetener and then spoon on top of your cereal or ice cream.
You can also use the guava's wood: It makes a great barbecue fire when you dry it out, and you can even make furniture from it. Here's how to prepare the wood for projects:
1. Cut guava stalks with a saw or loppers.
2. Cut each stalk to a manageable length, cutting off the top.
3. Use a garbage can or five-gallon buckets: For each 30 gallons of water, add half a box (about two pounds) of 20 Mule Team Borax and stir thoroughly.
4. Prop your sticks into the liquid and allow them to soak for one week.
5. Remove sticks and prop them in a dry place for four weeks.
6. Cut them to size, Verithane or paint them, and then lash them together to use as plant stakes, furniture or other creative projects.
For more information about strawberry guava, visit http://www.hear.org/Pier/species/psidium_cattleianum.htm\.
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