Guaiacum sanctum

Botanical Description

Lignum vitae is a very slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with an open, spreading crown; it can grow 3 - 13 metres tall with occasional specimens to 20 metres. The tree usually branches from low-down, often forming multiple trunks[ 307 Title Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide. Publication Author Barwick. M. Publisher Thames & Hudson, London Year 2004 ISBN 0-500-51181-0 Description A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life. , 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. The tree produces a very valuable timber, though not considered to be as good as G. Officinale, and is also said to have medicinal virtues. It is heavily exploited in the wild. The tree is also often grown as an ornamental in the tropics[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ]. Both the timber and medicinal resin are of commercial use and have been traded in quantity for several centuries. The tree has been heavily overexploited throughout its range and has become extinct or extremely rare in many areas. Regeneration is good but growth is very slow[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Populations have declined due to collection of wild plants and the removal of natural vegetation for agricultural purposes or developments in the tourist industry[ 381 Title Timber Trees of Meso America. Publication Author Website http://www.unep-wcmc.org/forest/timber/workshops/reports/MA2005/Annex%202.pdf Publisher UNEP Year 2005 ISBN Description A PDF document, published on the internet. Detailed reports on about 30 species of timber trees from Central America. ]. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].