Ethnobotanical study of guava in Taiwanese aboriginal people

Guava was introduced to Taiwan approximately 300 years ago. It was a highly spreading species as it produced large amount of seeds. Thus it was quickly domesticated and naturalized in Taiwan and has become a significant part of daily uses for different aboriginal tribes across the island. In this research, elders from 18 Taiwanese aboriginal tribes - Atayal, Seediq, Taroko, Saisiat, Bunun, Thao, Tsou, Rukai, Paiwan, Amis, Sakilaya, Gamalan, Puyuma, Tao, Tokasu, Pazel, Khawu, and Siraya - were extensively interviewed by the author from December 1996 to August 2014. A total of 6 use-categories of guava were documented during those field interviews as for: dietary use, medicinal use, religious rites, food cleaning, making household goods, and for children's toys. There were five use-items of documented medicine uses: for abdominal pain, diarrhea, other kind of abdominal diseases, bodily discomforts, and for illnesses related to modern lifestyle. In different tribes, cultural diversities could be identified in both of experiences and using different parts of guava. Other using experiences by the Island's plain residences also were discussed in this article.