Propagated by seeds and cuttings.
Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Inga spectabilis
Food
Firewood
Lumber
Medicinal
English Common Name
Machete Icecreambean
Costa Rican Common Name
Guaba machete
Tree Family
Leguminosae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
18cm
Length
×
10cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–1400m
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica
Native to
Region
Americas
Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Galapagos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela
Costa Rica
Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, San José
Coffee Agroforestry Information
Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Regeneration
Regenerates Naturally
Tree Management
Climate Change Adaptability
high
Derived from information reported from other species of this genus
Tree Benefits and Uses
Farmer Uses
- Food
- Firewood
- Lumber
- Medicinal
Food: Edible fruit
Firewood: Used as fuel.
Wood: Used for real estate construction.
Farm Services
- Coffee Shade
- Soil Improvement
- Nitrogen Fixation
- Carbon Capture
Coffee shade: Light shade
Carbon capture: Capture and storage of atmospheric carbon.
Soil improvement: Conservation and recovery of soils.
Nitrogen fixation: Helps in fixing nitrogen in the soil in the root zone.
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
Attracts biological controllers, Attracts seed dispersers, Attracts pollinators
Guamos attract resident and migratory warblers, the latter in search of insects to eat before embarking on their return journey 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
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
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