Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Inga vera
Food
Livestock Forage
Firewood
Lumber
Medicinal
Ceremonial
English Common Name
River koko
Costa Rican Common Name
Cuajiniquil
Tree Family
Leguminosae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
22cm
Length
×
18cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–2300m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Windward Islands
Costa Rica
Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Puntarenas, San José

Exotic in

Java

Coffee Agroforestry Information

Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Regeneration
Regenerates Naturally
Tree Management
It is propagated by seeds, cuttings, shoots or suckers.
Climate Change Adaptability
high

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Food
  • Livestock Forage
  • Firewood
  • Lumber
  • Medicinal
  • Ceremonial

Food: Edible fruit.

Animal fodder: Used to feed farm animals.

Medicinal: The bark, leaves and buds are used as an astringent and as antiseptic baths; it also has an analgesic and digestive effect.

Firewood: Used as fuel.

Wood: Used in construction, vessel making and carpentry.

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

The presence of many flying insects within guamo trees makes fine-billed insectivorous birds frequent visitors. 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

United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Service. (2024). Plants Database. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://plants.usda.gov/home

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

Universidad Nacional de Colombia. (2024). Nombres Comunes de las Plantasde Colombia. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/es

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