Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Vismia baccifera
Firewood
Lumber
Medicinal
Product
Ceremonial
Costa Rican Common Name
Achiotillo
Tree Family
Hypericaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
15cm
Length
×
7cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–3000m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Costa Rica

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Belize, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela
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
Propagated by seeds and cuttings.
Climate Change Adaptability
unknown

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Firewood
  • Lumber
  • Medicinal
  • Product
  • Ceremonial

Medicinal: Leaf extracts have shown anticancer, analgesic and antibacterial activity; the resin counteracts the effects of insect bites; the fruits are used to eliminate mange in dogs.

Ceremonial: The resin is used to produce incense in ceremonies.

Product: The resin is used to obtain oils and dyes for dyeing fabric or making body paints.

Firewood: Used as fuel.

Wood: Used for making fences, tool handles and posts.

Farm Services
  • Windbreak
  • Soil Improvement
  • Reforestation
  • Carbon Capture

Carbon capture: Capture and storage of atmospheric carbon.

Soil improvement: Conservation and recovery of soils.

Restoration: Because it is a pioneer, resistant and fast-growing, it can be useful in soil recovery and conservation processes and channel stabilization.

Biodiversity Benefits
Yes

Attracts biological controllers, Attracts seed dispersers, Attracts pollinators

Its flowers are visited by insects, bats and nectar-eating birds, mainly honeyeaters. Due to the attraction of insects to the flowers, these trees are also visited by predatory insects and some fine-beaked insectivorous birds, such as spider mites and greenfinches. Its fruits are also a source of food for frugivorous, generalist and insectivorous birds (which occasionally eat fruits).

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

Fern, Ken (2024). Tropical Plants Database. Published on the Internet. Retrieved from https://tropical.theferns.info

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