Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Maclura tinctoria
Food
Livestock Forage
Lumber
Medicinal
Ornamental
English Common Name
Fustictree
Costa Rican Common Name
Mora
Tree Family
Moraceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
7cm
Length
×
4cm
Width
Tree Height
Large (> 35m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–1500m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Southwest Caribbean, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Windward Islands
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
The seeds are dispersed by animals. Partially mature wood cuttings can also be used. You can also plant the seeds in a nursery and later take them to their final location.
Climate Change Adaptability
high

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Food
  • Livestock Forage
  • Lumber
  • Medicinal
  • Ornamental

Animal fodder: Used to feed farm animals.

Medicinal: The milky sap of this species is used for toothache and tooth extraction; it is also used for its healing properties.

Product: The bark is used to extract dyes and colorants.

Wood: It is used in heavy constructions, floors, railroad ties, fence posts and wagon wheels.

Farm Services
  • Coffee Shade
  • Carbon Capture

Coffee shade: Light shade

Carbon capture: Capture and storage of atmospheric carbon.

Biodiversity Benefits
Yes

Attracts biological controllers, Attracts seed dispersers

A wide variety of birds visit these trees, either in search of insects in their flowers and leaves, or in search of their flowers and fruits to consume. Its fruits are small and are desired by fruit-eating birds of different sizes. The small birds that consume its fruits help disperse its seeds.

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

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