Costa Rica
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Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Anacardium excelsum
Food
Livestock Forage
Lumber
Product
Ceremonial
English Common Name
Wild Cashew
Costa Rican Common Name
Espavel
Tree Family
Anacardiaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
24cm
Length
×
11cm
Width
Tree Height
Large (> 35m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–2000m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela
Costa Rica
Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, San José

Coffee Agroforestry Information

Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Regeneration
Regenerates Naturally
Tree Management
Propagated and planted in a nursery by means of seeds and seedlings.
Climate Change Adaptability
high

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Food
  • Livestock Forage
  • Lumber
  • Product
  • Ceremonial

Food: Edible fruit

Animal fodder: Used to feed farm animals.

Product / Wood: Used for the construction of buildings and canoes.

Farm Services
  • Coffee Shade
  • Windbreak
  • Soil Improvement
  • Carbon Capture
  • Protection Of Water Bodies

Coffee shade: Light shade

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 seed dispersers, Attracts pollinators

This tree constantly renews its leaves, which is why it is visited by wildlife throughout the year. In addition to all the environmental services it provides, it is a honey species. In addition to being a tree visited by predatory insects and insectivorous birds, its fruits are of great value for fauna.

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

Román, F., De Liones, R., Sautu, A., Deago, J., & Hall, J. S. (2012). Guía para la propagación de 120 especies de árboles nativos de Panamá y el neotrópico. Retrieved from https://repository.si.edu/bitstream/handle/10088/20967/stri_GUIA_PROPAGACION.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

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

de Sousa K, van Zonneveld M, Imbach P, Casanoves F, Kindt R, Ordoñez JC 2017, Atlas de aptitud de especies agroforestales claves bajo climas futuros en América Central. ICRAF Artículo Ocasional No. 26. Turrialba-Costa Rica. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). (2024). GBIF. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.gbif.org/es

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