Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Diphysa americana
Firewood
Lumber
Medicinal
Costa Rican Common Name
Guachipelín
Tree Family
Fabaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
11cm
Length
×
Width
Tree Height
Small (10–20m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–1500m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama
Costa Rica
Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, San José

Coffee Agroforestry Information

Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Cultivation
Planted
Regeneration
Unknown
Tree Management
Propagated by seeds and cuttings.
Climate Change Adaptability
high

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Firewood
  • Lumber
  • Medicinal

Medicinal: The leaves are used to reduce fever and headaches.

Firewood: Used as fuel.

Wood: Cabinetmaking, furniture making, flooring.

Farm Services
  • Coffee Shade
  • Soil Improvement
  • Carbon Capture

Coffee shade: Light shade

Carbon capture: Capture and storage of atmospheric carbon.

Biodiversity Benefits
Yes

Its flowers feed bees, butterflies and beetles. In particular, solitary bees of the family Megachilidae and carpenter bees of the family Anthophoridae.

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

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