Stratum
Plants of the low stratum
The low stratum lives under the canopies, at around 80% cover, and gathers the shade-tolerant species — coffee, cacao, many medicinals. Until the canopy closes, they depend on the pioneers' shade.
113 species in the catalog · Refine this list in the catalog
-
eggplant
Solanum melongena
Placenta I Medium No biomass productionAnnual or short-lived perennial Solanaceae grown for the fruit. The Bosque de Niebla Guidebook lists eggplant as Placenta I in the medium stratum. ...
-
jurubeba
Solanum paniculatum
Placenta II Medium No biomass productionA pioneer shrub native to Brazil, in the Solanaceae, common in disturbed areas, roadsides and pastures across most of the country. It reaches about...
-
spinach
Spinacia oleracea
Placenta I Low No biomass productionAnnual leafy vegetable for mild climates. Pasini lists it in the medium stratum of Tabela 3. In Brazilian tropical climates, best cultivated in coo...
-
fameflower
Talinum paniculatum
Placenta I Low No biomass productionA perennial succulent herb in the Talinaceae, native to the Americas and common as an unconventional food plant (PANC) and a volunteer in gardens. ...
-
white tephrosia
Tephrosia candida
Placenta II Low Mulch biomass 🌱 Nitrogen fixerA short-lived (3-4 years) perennial leguminous shrub of 1-3 m, native to India and widely introduced across the tropics. It fixes nitrogen and is g...
-
trinitario cacao
Theobroma cacao
Secondary II Medium No biomass productionHybrid group (Forastero × Criollo) originating in Trinidad. Combines Forastero's vigor with Criollo's cup quality. Medium height (5–8 m), intermedi...
-
cocoa
Theobroma cacao
Secondary I Low No biomass productionLow-stratum fruit tree shaded by bananas, ingás and palms in the Bahia syntropic systems pioneered by Götsch.
-
ccn-51 cacao
Theobroma cacao
Secondary II Medium No biomass productionEcuadorian hybrid clone (IMC-67 × ICS-95) selected by Homero Castro in the 1960s. Compact (4–5 m), self-compatible, high yield (up to 4 t/ha), and ...
-
forastero cacao
Theobroma cacao
Secondary II Medium No biomass productionBrazil's dominant cacao varietal group — yellow-green pods, purple-cotyledon seeds, robust but less aromatic flavor. Tall (6–12 m unpruned), vigoro...
-
criollo cacao
Theobroma cacao
Secondary II Medium No biomass productionHeirloom varietal group — Mesoamerican origin, red or yellow pods with white-to-pale-purple seeds. Delicate, low-bitterness flavor — the basis of t...
-
cupuaçu
Theobroma grandiflorum
Secondary I Medium No biomass productionAmazonian high-stratum fruit tree, cousin of cocoa. Pasini lists it in the high stratum of Tabela 3 and among Abundance-system species — middle pha...
-
garden nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
Placenta I Ground cover No biomass productionA fast-growing trailing or climbing herb, annual or short-lived perennial, native to the South American Andes and widely grown as an ornamental. Al...
-
blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Secondary I Low No biomass productionNorthern highbush blueberry, a deciduous shrub of the Ericaceae family, exotic to Brazil and grown in cold regions of the south, notably Rio Grande...
-
assa-peixe
Vernonanthura phosphorica
Placenta II Low Mulch biomassPioneer shrub-tree of Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, listed by Rebello among anchor species of the accumulation system. Indicator of shallow, dry soi...
-
cowpea
Vigna unguiculata
Placenta I Ground cover Fertilizer biomass 🌱 Nitrogen fixerAnnual nitrogen-fixing legume, prostrate or semi-climbing. Adapted to NE Brazil — protein staple of regional cuisine. Short cycle (60–90 days). Mor...
-
tannia
Xanthosoma sagittifolium
Secondary I Low No biomass productionPANC perennial leafy vegetable widely used in Brazilian syntropic systems. Pasini lists it in the low stratum of Tabela 3 and in the '3 to 10 years...
-
ginger
Zingiber officinale
Placenta I Low No biomass productionPerennial tropical aromatic rhizome. Pasini lists it in the low stratum of Tabela 3 and in the '1 to 3 years' phase of Tabela 4. Adapts well to the...
❓ Frequently asked questions
What is the low stratum?
Low forest stratum; tolerates significant shade.
Which plants occupy the low stratum?
The catalog holds 113 species, among them eggplant, jurubeba, spinach. Each profile shows stratum, succession stage, and the management data, with sources cited.