Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Heliocarpus americanus
Lumber
Product
Peru Common Name
Chalanca blanca
Tree Family
Malvaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
15cm
Length
×
12.5cm
Width
Tree Height
Shrub (1–10m)
Elevational Range (m)
350–3000m
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Peru
Native to
Region
Americas
Latin America
Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela
Coffee Agroforestry Information
Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Prevalence
Common in Coffee Agroforestry
Cultivation
Planted
Tree Management
Planted by seeds. It produces fruits that resemble eyelashes that house one to two seeds. Plant the seeds as soon as they are ripe. A high germination rate can usually be expected, and seeds sprout within 10 to 12 days. When the seedlings are 3-5 cm tall, plant them in individual containers. They will be ready to plant outside less than 4 months later. It has a low incidence of pests.
Tree Benefits and Uses
Farmer Uses
- Lumber
- Product
Used to make boxes, toys, and pencils. The bark of the young branches produces a strong and durable fiber from which a thick rope is made. It is also used to weave mats and baskets.
Farm Services
- Coffee Shade
- Soil Improvement
Coffee Shade: provides sparse to medium shade
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
It retains insects that serve as food for insectivorous birds such as tyrants, vireos, and greenlets, and birds that supplement their diet with insects such as tanagers. The dried fruits are also used as material for hummingbird nests.
Citations
Citations
Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2022-06-22. tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Heliocarpus+americanus;
WFO (2022): Heliocarpus americanus L. Accessed on: 24 Jun 2022. Published on the Internet http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-0000718186;
Mendoza, A. L. M., & Guerrero, M. H. (2010). Catálogo de los árboles y afines de la Selva Central del Perú. Arnaldoa, 17, 203-242.