Guaiacum
Guaiacum (pronounced: gwy-uh-kum) is a genus of flowering plants in the caltrop family, Zygophyllaceae. It is native to subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas, particularly from the Caribbean to northern South America.
Etymology
The name Guaiacum is derived from the Arawak word for tree, guaiac. This term was adopted by the Spanish during their early exploration of the Caribbean.
Description
Guaiacum species are small trees or shrubs that produce bright blue or purple flowers. The wood of these plants is extremely hard and dense, making it valuable for various uses. The resin, known as guaiacum resin, has been used in traditional medicine for its supposed therapeutic properties.
Species
There are six recognized species in the Guaiacum genus:
- Guaiacum officinale - Commonly known as lignum vitae or tree of life.
- Guaiacum sanctum - Known as holywood or holywood lignum-vitae.
- Guaiacum angustifolium - Known as Texas lignum-vitae.
- Guaiacum coulteri - Known as Sonora lignum-vitae.
- Guaiacum unijugum - Known as oneleaf lignum-vitae.
- Guaiacum striatum - Known as striated lignum-vitae.
Uses
The wood of Guaiacum species is used for making various items such as tool handles, mallet heads, and bearings for ships. The resin, or guaiacum gum, has been used in traditional medicine for treating conditions such as syphilis, rheumatism, and gout. However, its efficacy for these uses is not well established by scientific research.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Guaiacum
- Wikipedia's article - Guaiacum
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