Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Calophyllum brasiliense
Food
Livestock Forage
Firewood
Lumber
Medicinal
Ornamental
Peru Common Name
Alfaro
Tree Family
Calophyllaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
14cm
Length
×
4cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–1500m
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Peru
Native to
Region
Americas
Latin America
Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela
Coffee Agroforestry Information
Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Prevalence
Unknown
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Tree Management
The seeds are dispersed by animals, mainly bats. Planted by seeds. Germination will be accelerated if the hard seed shell is broken with a hammer before planting. Fresh seeds can be sown directly into the ground. Established plants are very drought tolerant.
Tree Benefits and Uses
Farmer Uses
- Food
- Livestock Forage
- Firewood
- Lumber
- Medicinal
- Ornamental
It is used in the manufacture of cabinets, fine furniture, floors, masts for boats, poles, general carpentry and pulp for paper. Used to cure sores and as a remedy for headache, and to treat diabetes and parasites. The yellow, resinous sap is used to heal wounds and scabies.
Farm Services
- Coffee Shade
- Windbreak
- Soil Improvement
- Erosion Control
Coffee Shade: planted as a shade tree for coffee and cocoa
Erosion Control: it has been used to stabilize soils and to alleviate soil compaction in degraded grasslands
Erosion Control: it has been used to stabilize soils and to alleviate soil compaction in degraded grasslands
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
The seeds are dispersed by bats mainly feeding on the pulp of the fruits.
Citations
Citations
Jezeer, Rosalien. (2018). PhD dissertation: Shedding Light on Shade- Reconciling Livelihoods and Biodiversity in Coffee Agroforests. 10.13140/RG.2.2.28895.71844.;
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: Calophyllum brasiliense (Cambess.). Accessed 5 Oct 2022. Published on the Internet: https://panamabiota.org/stri/taxa/index.php?taxon=Calophyllum+brasiliense&formsubmit=Search+Terms;
Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2022-10-05. tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Calophyllum+brasiliense;
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