Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Inga edulis
Food
Livestock Forage
Fuelwood
Lumber
Medicinal
Ornamental
Ceremonial
English Common Name
Icecreambean
Colombian Common Name
Guamo, churimo, guauro
Tree Family
Leguminosae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
25cm
Length
×
18cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–2140m
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Colombia
Native to
Region
Americas
Latin America
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Galapagos, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela
Colombia
Antioquia, Caldas, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Nariño, Risaralda, Santander, Tolima, Valle del Cauca
Exotic in
Latin America
Africa, Asia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Windward Islands
Coffee Agroforestry Information
Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Tree Management
It is propagated by seeds, which germinate inside the pod.
Tree Benefits and Uses
Farmer Uses
- Food
- Livestock Forage
- Fuelwood
- Lumber
- Medicinal
- Ornamental
- Ceremonial
Leaves and seeds are used as an astringent for intestinal diseases and as an antirheumatic. Used in the manufacture of poles.
Farm Services
- Coffee Shade
- Soil Improvement
- Erosion Control
- Reforestation
- Nitrogen Fixation
- Carbon Capture
Helps control erosion in agroforstry systems.
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
Attracts biological control agents, Attracts seed dispersers, Attracts pollinators. Flowers attract a variety of pollinating insects and hummingbirds. In addition, the presence of many flying insects within guamo trees makes insectivorous slender-billed birds frequent visitors. Guamos attract resident and migratory warblers, the latter in search of insects to eat before embarking on their journey back to North America.
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/;
United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Service. (2024). Plants Database. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://plants.usda.gov/home/;
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 Plantasde 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/