Caucho Negro
Castilla ulei

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

Castilla ulei is a deciduous Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 30 m (98ft) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The plant is not self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

Height (m): 30

Where it is found

Clearings and other open spots in primary forests, generally in company with Cecropia species; or in the fertile, sparsely wooded alluvial flats of valley bottoms. Rainforests, where it is found at elevations from sea level to 500 metres in Ecuador.

S. America - Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, South America.

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Fruit. The soft pulp is edible when fresh. The fruit is 20mm long and 25mm wide when dried, so will be larger when fresh.

Medicine

Rating: 0

Other

Rating: 3

Agroforestry Uses: Members of this genus have a root system that consists of a rather short tap root and of several lateral roots spreading horizontally and so near the surface of the soil that they can often be followed for 20 to 30 metres. This root system makes it difficult to grow other crops under the tree. Other Uses: A latex is obtained from the trunk. The rubber obtained from this tree is the most valuable obtained from any member of this genus.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Industrial Crop: Hydrocarbon: Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, rubber, biomass products gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, butane, propane, biogas. Plants are usually resprouting plants and saps.

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

A tree of the lowland humid tropics. The tree has long, spreading, superficial roots. Individual plants can either produce only male flowers (dioecious) or they can produce both male and female flowers (monoecious).

Propagating it: Seed

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 10-12

Growth: Medium

Soil: Light (sandy), medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: No shade

Moisture: Moist

Things to keep in mind

Its other names

Local names

Caucho, Hebe, Hule, Ule, Uli,

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.