Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Palicourea guianensis
Medicinal
Ornamental
Ceremonial
English Common Name
Showy cappel
Costa Rican Common Name
Cafecillo
Tree Family
Rubiaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
17cm
Length
×
6cm
Width
Tree Height
Small (10–20m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–3150m
0 3000+
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Windward Islands
Costa Rica
Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, San José

Coffee Agroforestry Information

Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Unknown
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Regeneration
Regenerates Naturally
Tree Management
Propagated by seeds and cuttings.
Climate Change Adaptability
unknown

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Medicinal
  • Ornamental
  • Ceremonial

Medicinal: Leaves and flowers to relieve the effects of snake bites. The bark and leaves are used for earache, cough and skin irritation, with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and to cure hemorrhoids.

Ceremonial: It is used for its psychedelic effect.

Ornamental: Used to adorn and/or decorate spaces.

Farm Services
  • Soil Improvement
  • Carbon Capture
  • Protection Of Water Bodies

Carbon capture: Capture and storage of atmospheric carbon.

Soil improvement: Conservation and recovery of soils.

Protection of bodies of water: Care and decontamination of waters.

Biodiversity Benefits
Yes

Attracts biological controllers, Attracts seed dispersers, Attracts pollinators

These small trees are from the same family as coffee. They can serve to create different strata in the shade and facilitate the descent of insectivorous birds to the coffee plantation. Its flowers attract many pollinating insects and also bats. Its fruits are also desired by different types of birds, including species that feed more frequently on invertebrates. In these little trees we have seen spiders in search of fruits and insects.

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

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