Guaiacum is a slow growing, broad leaf and small tree which grows with trunk diameter of 60 cm and upto 12 m in height. It has been introduced to other tropical areas of the world. Guaiacum, a genus of trees of the natural order zygophyllaceae. It is native to tropical america, from mexico through central america, florida, the caribbean, and northern south america.
Pdf genetic diversity in the endangered tropical tree. A lignumvitae officinale tree, a residual a former forest. Transfer of guaiacum sanctum from appendix ii to appendix i cites. Most people know guaiacum sanctum simply as lignum vitae, but its true recognized common name is actually holywood lignum vitae. Integrated taxonomic information system guaja wildlife. It is the tree with 2nd heaviest wood in the world. It contains five species of slowgrowing shrubs and trees, reaching a height of approximately 20 m 66 ft but usually less than half of that. Guaiacum sanctum, commonly known as holywood or holywood lignumvitae, is a species of flowering plant in the creosote bush family, zygophyllaceae.
The guaiacum sanctum is commonly called the lignum vitae, translating to wood of life or holy wood. Similar reactions afforded by guaiacum with blood, pus and mucus, have been made available for physiological and medicolegal purposes. Guaiacum officinale pdf guaiacum officinale is an evergreen tree growing to 10 m 32ft by 10 m 32ft at a slow rate. The crooked trunk can take many twists and turns to develop an unusual tree unlike no other in your collection. Guaiacum sanctum lignum vitae, guaiacum, holy wood pfaf plant. Lignum vitae is a small native tree that produces dark blue to purple flowers several times a year. When free from woody debris, guaiacum is soluble in alcohol, chloroform and solutions of alkalis.
The heartwood of guaiacum officinale linne or of guaiacum sanctum linne fam. The wood is very dense and does not float, but less so than the common lignum vitae guaiacum officinale. Guaiacum sanctum lignum vitae, guaiacum, holy wood pfaf. Guaiacum sanctum wikispecies, free species directory. Its wood is extremely hard, and were used to make ship propellers. Guaiacum guatemalense, guaiacum multijugum, guaiacum parvifolium, guaiacum sloanei, guaiacum verticale lignum sanctum is an evergreen shrub or tree. Species suited to tropical or subtropical climates 2high g. Guaiacum, guayacan, pockholz, tree of life, holy wood, lignum. Fairchild tropical botanical garden miami, fl, university of miami miami, fl and foster botanical garden, honolulu, hi. It will grow over time to as much as 35 tall with a dense rounded canopy, but. No warranties or guarantees as to the accuracy of the data and information derived from this web site are expressed or implied.
Guaiacum sanctum is a timber tree species from the ameri. Guaiacum is administered in many complaints, especially chronic rheumatism. It ranges from southern florida in the united states and the bahamas south to central america and the greater antilles. A rounded evergreen tree from central america, the west indies and the keys of florida, it is extremely slow growing and has a airy, crooked, knotty form that adds to its beauty. The trunk can be to 1 meter in diameter but usually much smaller and branching at its base. Guaiacum sanctum is an evergreen tree growing to 6 m 19ft by 6 m 19ft at a slow rate. Any of several tropical american trees of the genus guaiacum. Usually in the form of shavings, chips or raspings of a greenishbrown color, heavier than water, entirely free from adhering bark and containing only a few chips or shavings of a whitish. It is specially useful for treating rheumatoid arthritis, also in cases of chronic rheumatism and gout where it relieves the pain and inflammation between the attacks, and can lessen their recurrence if. Guaiacum angustifolium texas lignumvitae guaiacum officinale lignumvitae guaiacum sanctum holywood guaiacum unijugum. Native to the bahamas, the west indies and southern florida particularly the florida keys in the united states, it has small, blue flowers.
Browse pictures and read growth cultivation information about guaiacum, guayacan, pockholz, tree of life, holy wood, lignum vitae guaiacum sanctum supplied by member gardeners in the plantfiles. In particular, the wood is used as a mild laxative and diuretic. Thus far, my own specimen has done well here in san jose, ca. Guaiacum officinale an overview sciencedirect topics. Francis guaiacum officinale commonly known as lignumvit. Loved for its rich violetblue flowers that yield bright red fruits, lignum vitae is heat, drought and salt tolerant, making it stupendous as a specimen in the coastal tropics. The website also provides access to a database and images of herbarium specimens found at the university of south florida and other herbaria. Desert tropicals website ubc botany photo of the day january 21, 2010 the plant list 20. Guaiacum wood is the heartwood of guaiacum officinale, linn. Habitat, bahamas and south florida is also used for the same purposes as g. Guaiacum sanctum linnaeus 1753 see section 7 for natural hybrids.
Guaiacum definition of guaiacum by the free dictionary. Guaiacum sanctum grows as a small shrub to medium size tree up to 10 meters in height. Guaiacum sanctum has many medicinal, cultural, and economic uses. Guaiacum, which is one of hahnemanns antipsorics, is best known as a remedy in gout and rheumatism and as a diuretic, but latterly it has also taken a place in oldschool therapeutics as a remedy for consumption. Media in category guaiacum sanctumthe following 36 files are in this category, out of 36 total. Lignum vitae is latin for tree of life, and it was applied to guaiacum because of the plants medicinal properties. Guaiacum resin occurs in large blocks or rounded tears about 23 cm diameter. The california polytechnic state university and the cal poly corporation shall not be responsible for any loss of profit, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of the use of the data and information derived from this web site. Florida, mexico to northern south america, west indies habitat. Guaiacum sanctum, commonly known as holywood or holywood lignumvitae, is a species of. Guaiacum sanctum occurs on all island groups in the bahamian archipelago as well as south florida, the caribbean, and central and south america. Zygophyllaceae of north america update, database version 2011 acquired. Guaiacum sanctum, commonly called lignum vitae wood of life or palo santo holy wood, is a slowgrowing, multistemmed, broadleaf evergreen tree or shrub that is native primarily to dry coastal areas in the florida keys, bahamas, west indies, central american and northern south america.
Guaiacum sanctum definition of guaiacum sanctum by the free. Leon levy native plant preserve plant listings guaiacum. Media in category guaiacum the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. Native to florida to the bahamas to central america. Consumption of guaiacum sanctum fruit in the arid interior of guatemala. The atlas of florida plants provides a source of information for the distribution of plants within the state and taxonomic information. Guaiacum definition is any of a genus guaiacum of the caltrop family of tropical american evergreen trees and shrubs having pinnate leaves, usually blue flowers, and capsular fruit.
Guaiacum sanctum is a timber tree species from the americas, considered threatened in eleven different countries, including mexico, and listed in cites appendix ii. It is the national tree of the bahamas, and its flower is the national blossom of jamaica. Watson2 introduction lignumvitae is an extremely slowgrowing broadleaf evergreen which ultimately reaches 30 to 40 feet in height and casts light shade, but few people have seen plants of this size because it is not grown in the trade fig. Holywood lignum vitae guaiacum sanctum, exotic florida wood.
Pdf guaiacum sanctum is a timber tree species from the americas, considered. This document is enh445, one of a series of the environmental horticulture department, ufifas extension. Department of agriculture agricultural research service. Guaiacum sanctum small evergreen tree of the southern united states and west indies a source of lignum vitae wood bastard lignum vitae genus. While i would consider this species highly experimental this far north thus far, it is none the less something every serious plant geek should try. Cites appendix ii trade controlled to avoid use incompatible with species survival global reference unep wcmc. Sap and other plant derivatives has been used to treat syphilis. Guaiacum officinale lignumvitae guaiacum sanctum holywood guaiacum unijugum. The leaves are sometimes used as a substitute for soap. It can grow in semishade light woodland or no shade. Guaiacum wood guaiacum wood is the heartwood of guaiacum officinale, linn. Oct 09, 2014 the color is most marked at those portions of the plant where growth is taking place most rapidly.
Guaiacum resin occurs in large blocks or rounded tears about 23 cm. Updated for itis by the flora of north america expertise network, in connection with an update for usda plants 20072010 reference for. Guaiacum sanctum synonyms, guaiacum sanctum pronunciation, guaiacum sanctum translation, english dictionary definition of guaiacum sanctum. Guaiacum sanctum in the germplasm resources information network grin, u. With the help of over 7,000 of the worlds best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, arkive. The listing is for a package of 10 seeds, perfect for bonsai or house plant, exotic hard wood. Dec 25, 2019 guaiacum videos, photos and facts guaiacum coulteri arkive. Guaiacum officinale is one of two species yielding the true lignum vitae, the other being guaiacum sanctum. The leaves are arranged oppositely and have six to 10 opposite leaflets that are apiculate and have stipules at their leaflet bases. Guaiacum sanctum definition of guaiacum sanctum by the. It is also the larval host plant for lyside sulphur butterflies. Guaiacum, guayacan, pockholz, tree of life, holy wood.
Guaiacum sanctum holywood lignum vitae richard lyons. Jun 14, 20 the basic twoword term lignum vitae is somewhat misleading, because it applies not only to g. Homeopathic provings have developed and defined the sphere of its utility in all these respects and many more. The basic twoword term lignum vitae is somewhat misleading, because it applies not only to g. Guaiacum videos, photos and facts guaiacum coulteri arkive. The tree grows in the west indies and on the mainland opposite. Genetic diversity in the endangered tropical tree, guaiacum sanctum zygophyllaceae article pdf available in the journal of heredity 10. Stone 46 gives 89 pounds per cubic foot for guaiacum sanctum and cites sargent. Jan 02, 2015 media in category guaiacum the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total. Native to the florida keys, this small, slow growing tree, can develop some beautiful shapes. Guaiacum sanctum overlaps with the distribution of g. Holywood lignum vitae guaiacum sanctum, exotic florida. Media in category guaiacum sanctum the following 36 files are in this category, out of 36 total. Guaiacum sanctum is commonly called lignum vitae in english, and guayacan or palo santo in spanish.
Wildscreen s arkive project was launched in 2003 and grew to become the worlds biggest encyclopaedia of life on earth. On top of a beautiful canopy and blue flowers it is said to have a very hard wood. Unep world conservation monitoring centre, cambridge. Guaiacum sanctum small evergreen tree of the southern united states and west indies a source of lignum vitae wood. Nov 21, 2019 guaiacum officinale pdf guaiacum officinale is an evergreen tree growing to 10 m 32ft by 10 m 32ft at a slow rate. The powder is greyish but becomes green on exposure. An older guaiacum sanctum is a very beautiful and special tree.
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