Studies on Erythrina poeppigiana (Walpers) O.F. Cook, a versatile tree in Costa Rican farms

The purpose of this study was to collect and test data related to one of the species of the legume family, namely Erythrina poeppigiana, locally known in Costa Rica as "poró". Major findings were the following: a) Erythrina poeppigiana is widely used as a multipurpose tree in Costa Rica farms; b) there are many differences in the silvicultural management and uses of E. poeppigiana among Costa Rican farmers; c) shade for perennial crops is not the only use for E. poeppigiana, there is enough evidence of nitrogen fixation from nodules, large production of mulch (either by natural leaf fall or pollarding), the production of stakes for sale for new plantations, the use of the branches for firewood, the use of the leaves and young branches as forage, the use as support for other crops, and the use as living fence posts. In conclusion, Erythrina poeppigiana should be definitively considered as a very valuable multipurpose tree for small farmers in all the humid tropics and the carefully planned transference of Costa Rican knowledge of uses and technologies appears very promising.