PlantFiles: Guaiacum, Guayacan, Pockholz, Tree of Life, Lignum Vitae
Guaiacum officinale

In my homeland of Jamaica, West Indies, this plant is the national flowers. In Jamaica the wood is used to make beautiful furniture and when I was a child, the wood of the lignum vitae was also used to make "gigs" which is a toy played with by many Jamaican children. I 50 yrs old so I dont know if this toy is still being made or played with. The wood of the lignum vitae was chosen for this toy because of its durability.

First and only place i've seen this plant was in Oman.I thought it was a type of Duranta or something, but identified it here (Dave's). It seems to grow very well in dry place like in Oman. The seeds are black and elongated in a single or twin seeded orange pods. Inflorescence are white and purple and very dense on established specimen.

This is a very slow growing tree but well worth the wait. It is beautiful when in bloom! The wood is heavier than water and sinks! It is some of the densest and hardest wood known. The wood of Lignum Vitae is full of oil and ball bearing made from it never need to be lubricated as it is self lubricating!