Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Brosimum alicastrum
Food
Livestock Forage
Lumber
Medicinal
Peru Common Name
Congona, Mashonaste
Tree Family
Moraceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
12.83cm
Length
×
5.27cm
Width
Tree Height
Large (> 35m)
Elevational Range (m)
>1210m
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Peru

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela

Coffee Agroforestry Information

Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Prevalence
Not Common in Coffee Agroforestry
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Tree Management
Bats and various mammals help in seed dispersal. Trees of this species partially drop their leaves during the dry season. Each tree produces abundant fruits that can be collected from the ground. To extract the seeds (1 per fruit) the fruits are soaked in water. The seeds are medium to large (approx. 900 to 1,200 per kg). Without pre-germination treatment, an average of 90% germination is obtained, which begins 8-10 days after planting. The seeds lose viability within a few weeks. Natural regeneration seedlings can also be collected for planting in the nursery. Growth in nursery is very fast. Seedlings can reach 25-35 cm in height in a time of 4 months. They require shade during their initial development. It has a low incidence of pests.

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Food
  • Livestock Forage
  • Lumber
  • Medicinal
It is used to make furniture, flooring, tool handles, and carpentry. The cooked seeds are eaten. The leaves and tender branches are eaten.
Farm Services
  • Coffee Shade
  • Soil Improvement
Coffee Shade: provides sparse to medium shade
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
It produces fruits that are consumed by some birds and fruit bats, and houses insects and arachnids eaten by insectivorous birds. Various mammals help in seed dispersal.

Citations

Citations

Plants of the World Online POWO (2022). "Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org;

Román, Francisco, et al. Guía para la propagación de 120 especies de árboles nativos de Panamá y el neotrópico. 2012. Mendoza, A. L. M., & Guerrero, M. H. (2010). Catálogo de los árboles y afines de la Selva Central del Perú. Arnaldoa, 17, 203-242.