Tree Species (Scientific Name)
Inga ruiziana
Food
Firewood
Lumber
Medicinal
Peru Common Name
Shimbillo
Tree Family
Fabaceae
Average Leaf Size (cm)
16.5cm
Length
×
7.5cm
Width
Tree Height
Small (10–20m)
Elevational Range (m)
0–2150m
0 3000
Distribution
Native
Exotic
Native to Peru

Native to

Region
Americas
Latin America
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela

Coffee Agroforestry Information

Coffee System
Arabica
Coffee Impact
Beneficial to coffee
Prevalence
Unknown
Cultivation
Planted
Natural
Tree Management
The natural regeneration potential of the species is enormous, and seed propagation is highly successful. Trees grow quickly, respond well to drastic pruning, and are therefore easy to keep within the required size and shade levels. The trees of this species have great potential to produce honey plant in farms dedicated to beekeeping.

Tree Benefits and Uses

Farmer Uses
  • Food
  • Firewood
  • Lumber
  • Medicinal
It is used for firewood, boxes, flooring and fence posts. The white seed covering has a cottony and sweet consistency and is consumed fresh. The seeds contain a sweet, edible-tasting pulp that surrounds the seeds. The fruit is harvested from the wild for local use and is sometimes sold in local markets.
Farm Services
  • Coffee Shade
  • Soil Improvement
  • Erosion Control
  • Nitrogen Fixation
Coffee Shade: often planted to provide shade in coffee and cocoa plantations
Biodiversity Benefits
Yes
The flowers are visited by bees, butterflies and other insects. There are red ants that collect secretions from its glands and defend the plant from herbivores.

Citations

Citations

Solis R, Vallejos-Torres G, Arévalo L, Marín-Díaz J, Ñique-Alvarez M, Engedal T, Bruun TB (2020). Carbon stocks and the use of shade trees in different coffee growing systems in the Peruvian Amazon. The Journal of Agricultural Science 1–11. https:// doi.org/10.1017/S002185962000074X;


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;

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute: Inga ruiziana (G. Don). Accessed 13 Oct 2022. Published on the Internet: https://panamabiota.org/stri/taxa/index.php?taxon=Inga+ruiziana&formsubmit=Search+Terms;

Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2022-10-13. tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Inga+ruiziana;

Inga ruiziana G.Don in GBIF Secretariat (2021). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Accessed on 2022-10-13. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei;

Reynel, C., & Albán, J. (4). 4 Especies Forestales con Potencialidad alimenticia en la amazonía peruana: Etnobotánica y Germinación (Artículo especial). Revista Forestal del Perú, 13(1), 1-24.