Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Hevea brasiliensis
Food
Lumber
Product
English Common Name
Rubber Tree
Peru Common Name
Shiringa
Tree Family
Euphorbiaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
27cm
Length
×
8.25cm
Width
Tree Height
Large (> 35m)
Elevational Range (m)
350–1000m
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Peru
Native to
Region
Americas
Latin America
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela
Exotic in
Latin America
Costa Rica, Mexico
Coffee Agroforestry Information
Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
May compete with coffee
Prevalence
Unknown
Cultivation
Planted
Tree Management
Propagated by seeds or grafting of shoots. Seeds are only viable for a short period and should be sown immediately after harvest. Germinate in shaded beds and move to the nursery shortly after germination, where they are planted in the ground or in a perforated polyethylene bag. Weed control is required and legume coverage recommended after transplantation. Intolerant of swampy conditions. Harvest and replant after 30-35 years to maintain economic viability. Prune and remove unwanted branches. Mulch before the end of the late rains. Fertilizer recommended. Trees can be harnessed when 50-70% of trees are 150 cm tall from the base with a circumference size of at least 45 cm (15 cm in diameter). The bark is cut from the upper left (150 cm high) to the lower right. Can compete with coffee.
Tree Benefits and Uses
Farmer Uses
- Food
- Lumber
- Product
Used to make furniture, boards, parquet and many other wood products. Latex is used for rubber and as a crop, and oil and fruit are used and consumed. The seeds contain a semi-drying oil that can be used in the manufacture of paints and soap.
Farm Services
- Unknown
Biodiversity Benefits
No
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;
Mendoza, A. L. M., & Guerrero, M. H. (2010). Catálogo de los árboles y afines de la Selva Central del Perú. Arnaldoa, 17, 203-242.;
Shade Catalog | Indonesia. Shade Catalog, Conservation International, Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and World Coffee Research. Retrieved October 5, 2022, from https://www.shadecoffee.org/en/catalog/indonesia;
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