Costa Rica
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Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Acalypha macrostachya
Medicinal
English Common Name
Fire Dragon
Costa Rican Common Name
Zanco de mula, Falsa ortiga
Tree Family
Euphorbiaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
15cm
Length
×
10cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
10–2000m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, Windward Islands
Costa Rica
Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, San José

Coffee Agroforestry Information

Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Cultivation
Natural
Regeneration
Regenerates Naturally
Tree Management
Propagated through shoots, seedlings and seeds that establish themselves in the soil.
Climate Change Adaptability
unknown

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Medicinal

Medicinal: The leaves are used for stomach pain, as a laxative and against filariasis. The white milk from the stem is applied to wounds as a healing agent.

Farm Services
  • Soil Improvement
  • Carbon Capture
  • Protection Of Water Bodies

Carbon capture: Capture and storage of atmospheric carbon.

Soil improvement: Conservation and recovery of soils.

Protection of bodies of water: Care and decontamination of waters.

Biodiversity Benefits
Yes

Attracts biological controllers, Attracts pollinators

Its flowers attract various insects, bats and birds. Some insectivorous birds take shelter or build their nest there.

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

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). (2024). GBIF. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.gbif.org/es

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 Plantas. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/es

Fern, Ken (2024). Tropical Plants Database. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://tropical.theferns.info

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). (2024). GBIF. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.gbif.org/es

World Flora Online. (2024). World Flora Online. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.worldfloraonline.org

Adenaria floribunda
Chaparro