Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Iochroma arborescens
Livestock Forage
Medicinal
Ornamental
Ceremonial
English Common Name
Hollowheart, Gallinero
Costa Rican Common Name
Güitite
Tree Family
Solanaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
17cm
Length
×
8cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
1000–2400m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Leeward Islands, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Windward Islands
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 by seeds; It has a low incidence of pests.
Climate Change Adaptability
unknown

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Livestock Forage
  • Medicinal
  • Ornamental
  • Ceremonial

Medicinal: Its fruits are used to treat liver problems; the leaves are used in healing baths, when heated, to reduce swelling and inflammation in affected areas.

Ornamental: As living fences; to cultivate orchids.

Ceremonial: It is used to produce poison.

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

Coffee shade: Low-dense, low-growing shade.

Carbon capture: Capture and storage of atmospheric carbon.

Weed control: Used in early successional stages and as weed control.

Soil improvement: Soil conservation and recovery; Biomass contribution.

Biodiversity Benefits
Yes

Attracts biological controllers, Attracts pollinators

Small tree whose flowers and fruits attract an enormous diversity of animals, large and small. It is visited by pollinators and pest controllers alike and due to its size, it allows fine-beaked insectivorous birds to descend from the treetops towards the coffee trees.

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

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

World Flora Online. (2024). World Flora Online. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.worldfloraonline.org