From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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

Guaiacum officinale is one of the species yielding the true lignum vitae. All species in this genus Guaiacum are CITES-listed. The other species of true Lignum Vitae is Guaiacum sanctum.

Description

The word guaiacum originated in the language spoken by the native Taínos of the Bahamas.^[1] The tree is native to the Caribbean and the northern coast of South America.^[2] This small tree is very slow growing, reaching about 10 m in height with a trunk diameter of 60 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 bright yellow-orange fruit with red flesh and black seeds.

Characteristics

Guaiacum officinale is the national flower of Jamaica.^[3]

References

• Americas Regional Workshop (Conservation & Sustainable Management of Trees, Costa Rica, November 1996) (1998). Guaiacum officinale. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Listed as Endangered (EN C2a v2.3)

From Wikispecies

Classification System: APG II (down to family level)

Main Page
Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiospermae
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordines: Unassigned Eurosids I
Familia: Zygophyllaceae
Subfamilia: Larreoideae
Genus: Guaiacum

Species: Guaiacum officinale

Name

Guaiacum officinale L.

Vernacular name