Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Cordia alliodora
Food
Livestock Forage
Firewood
Lumber
Medicinal
Ornamental
Product
English Common Name
Laurel
Peru Common Name
Banderillo, Laurel
Tree Family
Boraginaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
11.25cm
Length
×
4.53cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
350–1500m
0 3000
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
Common in Coffee Agroforestry
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Tree Management
Planted by seeds–they are dispersed by the wind and planted in nursery by cuttings. The trees produce an enormous amount of seeds, which are easy to collect with sticks. The fruits should be collected with brown coloration, just before darkening because the seed (1 per fruit) seems to lose viability. Break the fruits manually and extract the small seed (more than 200 thousand per kg). The seed needs scarification before planting by scraping the seed layer. On average, 70% germination is obtained with fresh seeds, which begins 21 days after sowing. Seeds stored at 20ºC lose viability in less than 1 month. Growth in nursery is fast. Seedlings can reach 25-30 cm in height in a time of 5-6 months. They require full light during their initial development. The seed can be planted in trays, transplanting the seedlings when they are about 3 weeks old to nurseries. They are planted in their permanent positions about 6 months later. It is a fast-growing tree in suitable places and with good management, an annual increase in height of 2 meters is possible. It has an average incidence of pests. They self-prune easily.

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Food
  • Livestock Forage
  • Firewood
  • Lumber
  • Medicinal
  • Ornamental
  • Product
Used in the manufacture of cabinets, flooring, shipbuilding, bridges, vehicles, railway ties, fence posts, bridges, and construction. Its fruits are edible. Leaves, fruits and seeds are used as forage. Used to produce ethanol and yields ~266 liters per ton of dry weight. The infusion of the leaves is used as a tonic and stimulant in cases of colds and lung diseases. The pulverized seed is used to treat skin diseases.
Farm Services
  • Coffee Shade
  • Soil Improvement
  • Reforestation
Coffee Shade: it is commonly grown in association with many agricultural crops and in numerous agroforestry systems, and as a shade tree in coffee and cocoa plantations
Reforestation: it is very resistant to wind, easily colonizes bare soils and grows quickly, and can be used to start the process of restoring native forests
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
The flowers are very attractive to bees and produce nectar. The flowers are pollinated by bees and other insects.

Citations

Citations

Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2022-06-22. tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Cordia+alliodora;

Miller, J.S. 2022-7-11. Cordia alliodora (Ruiz & Pav.) Oken En Bernal, R., S.R. Gradstein & M. Celis (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co;

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.