Common names include Brazilian guava, Castilian guava,[2] sour guava,[3] Guinea guava[4] (English language), Goyavier du Brésil (French language),[5] brasiliaanse koejawel (Afrikaans), Stachelbeerguave (German language), chobo, diondan (Bolivia), guayabillo de tierra fria (El Salvador),[3] araçá do campo, aracahy (Brazil), guayaba brava, sacha guayaba (Peru), allpa guayaba (Ecuador), guayaba agria (Venezuela, Mexico), guayaba acida, chamach, pichippul (Guatemala), guísaro (Costa Rica), and guayabita de sabana (Panama).

[2] This plant is native to the Americas, where its natural range extends from Mexico to Argentina, and includes parts of the Caribbean.

[2] The wood of the plant is hard and sturdy and can be used as lumber and to make durable objects like tool handles.

Extracts of the leaves are used to ease the common cold in Costa Rica.

[2] Laboratory studies show that extracts have some activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, particularly when combined with antibiotics.

Flavonoids identified in the plant include quercetin, avicularin, and guaijaverin.