Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Urera caracasana
Medicinal
Product
English Common Name
Flameberry
Costa Rican Common Name
Ortiga, Pringamoza, Crespón
Tree Family
Urticaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
18cm
Length
×
15cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–2300m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Islands, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Windward Islands
Costa Rica
Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limón, Puntarenas, San José

Exotic in

Galapagos, New Caledonia

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
  • Product

Medicinal: Used for skin and epithelial tissue diseases. The roots are boiled with honey and the liquid is used for stomach pain and to treat parasites. A tea made from the bark is used as a remedy for lung diseases. Nettle leaves rubbed against the skin are used in the treatment of muscle pain.

Product: The fiber from the bark is used to make netting, clothing, and paper.

Farm Services
  • Carbon Capture

Carbon capture: Capture and storage of atmospheric carbon.

Biodiversity Benefits
Yes

Some generalist birds visit this plant in search of food, particularly insects that hide in its leaves or visit its flowers.

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

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