Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Dendropanax arboreus
Firewood
Lumber
Medicinal
Product
Peru Common Name
Fósforo caspi
Tree Family
Araliaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
8.2cm
Length
×
3.3cm
Width
Tree Height
Medium (20–35m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–2600m
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Peru
Native to
Region
Americas
Latin America
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
Planted by seeds and are dispersed by birds and mammals. They are easy to collect but the seeds (5-7 per fruit) do not always ripen at the same time. Ripe fruits are picked by climbing trees and using sticks with metal hooks to remove them. The pulp is removed from the fruits by hand inside a bucket of water. Sinking seeds are used and dried in the sun for 1-2 hours. Without pregermination treatment, an average of 44% germination is obtained with fresh seeds, which occurs between 10 and 66 days after sowing. Seeds remain viable for about 15 months when stored in ambient conditions. Growth in nursery is fast. Seedlings can reach 25-30 cm in height in a time of 5 months. They require partial shade during their initial development. The management of tree shade in cultivation systems requires assisted pruning, forming a crown form. It has a low incidence of pests.
Tree Benefits and Uses
Farmer Uses
- Firewood
- Lumber
- Medicinal
- Product
Used for general carpentry, boxes and drawers, interior construction, furniture, veneer, particleboard, tongue depressants, toothpicks, matches and paper pulp, and plywood. The root and leaves are harvested for local medicinal uses.
Farm Services
- Coffee Shade
- Soil Improvement
Coffee Shade: provides very dense shade coverage
Soil Improvement: it provides a large amount of organic matter from leaf drop in the dry season
Soil Improvement: it provides a large amount of organic matter from leaf drop in the dry season
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
It provides fruit for insectivorous birds such as blue-headed parrots, saltators, and tanagers. Dry stumps are used by parrots to make their nests because it has a soft wood. The seeds are dispersed by birds and mammals. An important source of honey.
Citations
Citations
Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2022-06-22. tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Dendropanax+arboreus;
Román, Francisco, et al. Guía para la propagación de 120 especies de árboles nativos de Panamá y el neotrópico. 2012.