Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Miconia caudata
Firewood
Lumber
Costa Rican Common Name
Cenizo, hoja de lanza, tuno, Lengua de vaca
Tree Family
Melastomataceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
12cm
Length
×
5cm
Width
Tree Height
Shrub (1–10m)
Elevational Range (m)
500–2500m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica

Native to

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

Coffee Agroforestry Information

Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Cultivation
Natural
Regeneration
Regenerates Naturally
Tree Management
Propagated by means of seeds.
Climate Change Adaptability
unknown

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Firewood
  • Lumber

Firewood: Used as fuel.

Wood: Used in the construction of posts, fences and in the production of household utensils.

Farm Services
  • Coffee Shade
  • Soil Improvement
  • Carbon Capture

Coffee shade: Light shade

Carbon capture: Capture and storage of atmospheric carbon.

Soil improvement: Conservation and recovery of soils.

Biodiversity Benefits
Yes

Attracts biological controllers, Attracts seed dispersers, Attracts pollinators

Prickly pears are fast-growing pioneer trees. They very easily help to enrich and improve areas without tree vegetation and poor in fauna. They are like a fast food restaurant that is highly sought after by birds, mammals and insects. Its fruits are attractive to many frugivorous seed-dispersing birds. It is a tree very suitable for live fences.

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

Universidad EIA. (2024). Catálogo virtual de Flora del Valle de Aburrá. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://catalogofloravalleaburra.eia.edu.co

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

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