Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Brownea ariza
Fuelwood
Lumber
Medicinal
Ornamental
Colombian Common Name
Árbol de la cruz, Arizá, Palo de cruz, Rosa de monte, Palocruz, Palosanto
Tree Family
Fabaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
50cm
Length
×
25cm
Width
Tree Height
Shrub (1–10m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–1700m
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Colombia
Native to
Region
Americas
Latin America
Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Venezuela
Colombia
Antioquia, Boyacá, Cundinamarca, Huila, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca
Coffee Agroforestry Information
Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Unknown
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Tree Management
Propagated by seeds. It has a slow growth and is long-lived.
Tree Benefits and Uses
Farmer Uses
- Fuelwood
- Lumber
- Medicinal
- Ornamental
Used to adorn and decorate spaces. Its leaves, flowers, stems, and wood sawdust are used as medicine, to relieve menstrual cramps and also for its anti-cancer properties. Used as firewood. Used as wooden poles, fine woodworking and carpentry
Farm Services
- Reforestation
- Water Protection
Used in living fences and tree-lined ravines.
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
Attracts seed dispersers, Attracts pollinators, Provides wildlife hábitat. Fruits are consumed by birds and mammals (like agoutis), and flowers are visited by bees and other insects. Tree offers food, shelter and protection for two sloth species, and its architecture makes it easy for them to move around.
Citations
Citations
Plants of the World Online (POWO). (2024). Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/;
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (2024). IUCN Red List. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org/;
Fern, Ken (2024). Tropical Plants Database. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://tropical.theferns.info/;
Universidad EIA. (2024). Catálogo virtual de Flora del Valle de Aburrá. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://catalogofloravalleaburra.eia.edu.co/;
World Flora Online. (2024). World Flora Online. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.worldfloraonline.org/;
Universidad Nacional de Colombia. (2024). Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/es/;
Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). (2024). GBIF. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.gbif.org/es/
Sistema de Información sobre Biodiversidad de Colombia (SIB) (2024). Catálogo de la Biodiversidad. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from: https://catalogo.biodiversidad.co/
Catálogo virtual de flora del valle de Aburrá. Retrieved from: https://catalogofloravalleaburra.eia.edu.co/species/117
Espinosa, R., & López, A. M. (2019). Árboles nativos importantes para la conservación de la biodiversidad.
Cenicafé. https://doi.org/10.38141/cenbook-0004s;
Sociedad Antioqueña de Ornitología-SAO (2009). Vida, color y canto. Plantas neotropicales que atraen aves