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Tree Species (Scientific Name)

Inga ruiziana

Tree Family

Fabaceae

Average Leaf Size (cm)

16.5cm

Length

7.5cm

Width

Tree Height

Small (10–20m)

Elevational Range (m)

0–2150m

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

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.

Inga oerstediana

Pacae soguilla, Pacae, Pacae de sombra

Inga saltensis

Pacae maní, Pacay