Costa Rica
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Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Croton draco
Livestock Forage
Firewood
Lumber
Medicinal
English Common Name
Weeping Blood
Costa Rican Common Name
Targuá, Sangre de dragón
Tree Family
Euphorbiaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
14cm
Length
×
10cm
Width
Tree Height
Small (10–20m)
Elevational Range (m)
200–2000m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
Costa Rica
Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Puntarenas, San José

Coffee Agroforestry Information

Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Regeneration
Regenerates Naturally
Tree Management
Propagated by seeds and seedlings.
Climate Change Adaptability
unknown

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Livestock Forage
  • Firewood
  • Lumber
  • Medicinal

Medicinal: The red latex of the bark has hemostatic, antidiarrheal, antiulcer, antiviral, healing, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.

Wood: Construction

Firewood: Used as fuel and charcoal.

Farm Services
  • Coffee Shade
  • Soil Improvement
  • Erosion Control
  • Carbon Capture

Coffee shade: Light shade

Carbon capture: Capture and storage of atmospheric carbon.

Biodiversity Benefits
Yes

Food for granivorous birds.

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

Aves y plantas de Costa Rica. Published on the internet. Retrieved from https://avesyplantas.com

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (2024). IUCN Red List. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org

Cornutia pyramidata
Lavender cornutia, Azulejo, palo cuadrado, cuatro caras
Croton niveus
Wild Cinnamon, Colpachí