Guaiacum sanctum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Guaiacum sanctum
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Zygophyllales Family: Zygophyllaceae Genus: Guaiacum Species: G. sanctum
Binomial name
Guaiacum sanctum L.

Guaiacum sanctum (also called Lignum Vitae and Holywood) is a species of plant in the Zygophyllaceae family. It is found in the Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, and south Florida in the United States. It is threatened by habitat loss.

This tree is one of two species which yield the valuable Lignum Vitae wood. The other species is Guaiacum officinale. This small tree is slow growing, reaching about 7 m in height with a trunk diameter of 50 cm. The tree is essentially evergreen throughout most of its native range. The leaves are compound, 2.5 to 3 cm in length, and 2 cm wide. The blue flowers have five petals which yield a yellow fruit with red flesh and black seeds.

[edit] Source

• Americas Regional Workshop (Conservation & Sustainable Management of Trees, Costa Rica) 1998. Guaiacum sanctum. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 21 August 2007.