An ethnobotany case by eric ribbens, barbra burdett, and angela green department of biological science western illinois university part ianecdotal evidence dr. Native to the bahamas, the west indies and southern florida particularly the florida keys in the united states, it has small, blue flowers. This page was last edited on 18 december 2019, at 21. Guaiacum, guayacan, pockholz, tree of life, holy wood. The mexican populations cover a greater portion of the species natural. Guaiacum sanctum synonyms, guaiacum sanctum pronunciation, guaiacum sanctum translation, english dictionary definition of guaiacum sanctum. Lilian ferrufino at national autonomous university of honduras. Department of agriculture, forest service, international institute of for rio piiras, pr. It will grow over time to as much as 35 tall with a dense rounded canopy, but.
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. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. The basic twoword term lignum vitae is somewhat misleading, because it applies not only to g. It ranges from india, sri lanka, java and the tivu islets of the indian ocean, southern florida in the united states and the bahamas south to central america and the greater antilles. Guaiacum sanctum grows as a small shrub to medium size tree up to 10 meters in height.
Guaiacum sanctum guaiacum guatemalense guaiacum multijugum. The trunk can be to 1 meter in diameter but usually much smaller and. Beth tonoany is a tropical population ecologist who has been studying an unusual tree, guaiacum sanctum, which once grew throughout. The genetic structuring among the major groups of guaiacum shows evidence of isolation. It is also the larval host plant for lyside sulphur butterflies.
It is best known for its extremely dense and beautiful hardwood, used in woodworking. Most people know guaiacum sanctum simply as lignum vitae, but its true recognized common name is actually holywood lignum vitae. Habitat, bahamas and south florida is also used for the same purposes as g. Guajacum sanctum plant finder missouri botanical garden. It ranges from southern florida in the united states. This gnarly, evergreen, slowgrowing shrub or small tree is native to the gravelly plains of western.
Furthermore, guaiacum sanctum could act as an umbrella species in terms of. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or. Guaiacum sanctum, commonly known as holywood or holywood lignumvitae, is a species of. Pdf conservacion del guayacan real guaiacum sanctum l. The following association containing lignumvitae was. The leaves are arranged oppositely and have six to 10 opposite leaflets that are apiculate and have stipules at their leaflet bases.
Pdf genetic diversity in the endangered tropical tree. Dec 25, 2019 guaiacum videos, photos and facts guaiacum coulteri arkive. John k francis is a research forester at the international institute of tropical. Jan 02, 2015 this page was last edited on 22 december 2019, at 08. This page was last edited on 15 october 2019, at 10. Guaiacum officinale grows from near sea level to 300 or 400 m in elevation francis 1993. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the. Department of agriculture agricultural research service. John k francis is a research forester at the international institute of tropical forestry, u. The wood is very dense and does not float, but less so than the common lignum vitae guaiacum officinale. Transfer of guaiacum sanctum from appendix ii to appendix i cites. Lignum vitae provides food and shelter for birds and is a. With a rounded canopy that is often compared to a crapemyrtle, holy wood can be grown as a small, multiple. Wildscreens arkive project was launched in 2003 and grew to become the worlds biggest encyclopaedia of life on earth.
Audio station number 181 in the glasshouse complex of the munich botanical garden. 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. The guaiacum sanctum is commonly called the lignum vitae, translating to wood of life or holy wood. Guaiacum sanctum grows in limestone based dry broadleaf evergreen formations in both coastal and interior habitats.
A slow growing and small tree, occasionally growing up to 50ft. Pdf spatial genetic structure within size classes of the. Perspectives on the systematics and phylogenetics of guaiacum. The website also provides access to a database and images of herbarium specimens found at the university of south florida and other herbaria. Rare and slow growing small tree, hard to propagate. It ranges from india, sri lanka, java and the tivu. Consumption of guaiacum sanctum fruit in the arid interior of guatemala. Lignum vitae is latin for tree of life, and it was applied to guaiacum because of the plants medicinal properties. Guaiacum sanctum is assessed as endangered in the world list of threatened trees. Guaiacum, guayacan, pockholz, tree of life, holy wood, lignum.
Abundant flowers range in color from purple to blue, it is the national flower of jamaica. This tree is sometimes referred to as the tree of life because of its many uses. With showy blue flowers that are evident year round, holywood is a slow growing evergreen tree. Desert tropicals website ubc botany photo of the day january 21, 2010 the plant list 20. This page was last edited on 22 december 2019, at 08.
Guaiac, a natural resin extracted from the wood, is a colorless compound that turns blue. Guaiacum guatemalense, guaiacum multijugum, guaiacum parvifolium, guaiacum sloanei, guaiacum verticale lignum sanctum is an evergreen shrub or tree. Guaiacum officinale is one of two species yielding the true lignum vitae, the other being guaiacum sanctum. All structured data from the file and property namespaces. It is the national tree of the bahamas, and its flower is the national blossom of jamaica. Hosted by the usgs core science analytics and synthesis. Genetic diversity in the endangered tropical tree, guaiacum sanctum zygophyllaceae. Guaiacum wood guaiacum wood is the heartwood of guaiacum officinale, linn.
The leaves are sometimes used as a substitute for soap. Holywood lignum vitae guaiacum sanctum, exotic florida. Guaiacum sanctum holywood lignum vitae richard lyons. This document is enh445, one of a series of the environmental horticulture department, ufifas extension.
Small yellow heart shaped berries follow the flowers but are also often present. Jun 14, 20 the basic twoword term lignum vitae is somewhat misleading, because it applies not only to g. In particular, the wood is used as a mild laxative and diuretic. 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 doses are continued. Both the timber and medicinal resin are of commercial use and have been traded in quantity for several centuries. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Thus far, my own specimen has done well here in san jose, ca. 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. This slowgrowing tree to 10 m tall is found from miamidade. Species suited to tropical or subtropical climates 2high g. Native to the florida keys, this small, slow growing tree, can develop some beautiful shapes.
Spatial genetic structure within size classes of the endangered tropical tree guaiacum sanctum zygophyllaceae. Guaiacum sanctum, commonly known as holywood or holywood lignumvitae, is a species of flowering plant in the creosote bush family, zygophyllaceae. The website also provides access to a database and images of herbarium. It is specially useful for treating rheumatoid arthritis, also in cases of chronic rheumatism and gout. Lignum vitae is an extremely slowgrowing broadleaf evergreen which ultimately reaches 30 feet in height and casts light shade, but few people have seen plants of this size because it is not grown in the trade. Why was the guaiaca tree, guaiacum officinale, so important. Watson2 introduction lignumvitae is an extremely slowgrowing broadleaf evergreen which. Text is available under the creative commons attributionsharealike license. Guaiacum sanctum definition of guaiacum sanctum by the free. Diagram of adult guaiacum sanctum individuals within a. The crooked trunk can take many twists and turns to develop an.
Provided by usda nrcs national plants data team npdt. 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 atlas of florida plants provides a source of information for the distribution of plants within the state and taxonomic information. Guaiacum sanctum country mexico original language english nondetriment findings report on guaiacum sanctumin mexico authors. They were compiled mostly by little see references below and digitized by thompson et al. Leon levy native plant preserve plant listings guaiacum.
The crooked trunk can take many twists and turns to develop an unusual tree unlike no other in your collection. The trunk can be to 1 meter in diameter but usually much smaller and branching at its base. Lignum vitae provides food and shelter for birds and is a nectar source for butterflies and bees. Small yellow heart shaped berries follow the flowers but are also often present at the same time as flowers. Guaiacum sanctum, lignum vitae, tree of life, gaiac tree. Background this feis document provides maps of the ranges of tree species in north america. The heartwood of guaiacum officinale linne or of guaiacum sanctum linne fam. A list of lyrics, artists and songs that contain the term guaiacum sanctum from the lyrics. 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.
Archived 20140627 at the wayback machine downloaded on 21 august 2007. Holywood lignum vitae guaiacum sanctum, exotic florida wood rare seed 10 seeds 1. Alejandro zunigaortiz at national university of costa rica. Guaiacum sanctum small evergreen tree of the southern united states and west indies a source of lignum vitae wood bastard lignum vitae genus. The spanish brought it to europe at the beginning of the 16th century, where it became popular as lignum sanctum, holy wood, or even lignum. Department of agriculture, fcrest service, rio pr 009282500. 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 occurs on all island groups in the bahamian archipelago as well as south florida, the caribbean, and central and south america. With the help of over 7,000 of the worlds best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, featured multimedia factfiles for more than 16,000 endangered species. Guaiac, a natural resin extracted from the wood, is a colorless compound that turns blue when placed in contact with substances that have peroxidase activity and then are.
Its wood is extremely hard, and were used to make ship propellers. Guaiacum officinale sometimes grows in association with a sister species, g. Nicaragua seymour, 1980, guatemala chickering, 1973 y wendelken, 1987, pero vease aguilar, 1958. Itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. Lignum vitae is a small native tree that produces dark blue to purple flowers several times a year. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and uptodate information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in. Guaiacum sanctum in the germplasm resources information network grin, u.
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