Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Myrsine coriacea
Firewood
Lumber
English Common Name
Leathery Colicwood
Costa Rican Common Name
Ratóncillo, ratón blanco
Tree Family
Myrsinaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
9.5cm
Length
×
2cm
Width
Tree Height
Small (10–20m)
Elevational Range (m)
800–3000m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela, Windward Islands
Costa Rica
Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, San José

Coffee Agroforestry Information

Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Regeneration
Regenerates Naturally
Tree Management
Propagated by seeds, seedlings and cuttings.
Climate Change Adaptability
unknown

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Firewood
  • Lumber

Medicinal: The leaves are used against bites

Wood: Used to make fences, doors and animal pens, forks, beams, rafters, railings, tool handles, formwork, firewood and light constructions.

Firewood: Used as charcoal

Farm Services
  • Coffee Shade
  • Windbreak
  • Soil Improvement
  • Reforestation

Coffee shade: Light shade;

Reforestation: can be used as a pioneer species in the restoration of native forests

Biodiversity Benefits
Yes

Provides fruit for many resident and migratory birds

It retains arthropods that are consumed by insectivorous birds. The flowers are visited by bees and other insects. The seeds are dispersed by animals, mainly birds.

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

Aves y plantas de Costa Rica (2024). Published on the internet. Retrieved from https://avesyplantas.com Shade Coffee. Catálogo de sombra. Published on the internet. Retrieved from https://www.shadecoffee.org/ Shade Coffee. Catálogo de sombra. Published on the internet. Retrieved from https://www.shadecoffee.org/ Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). (2024). GBIF. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://www.gbif.org/es/ Aves y plantas de Costa Rica. Published on the internet. Retrieved from https://avesyplantas.com