🌼 Holywood Lignum Vitae Flower 🌼
Facts:
- Scientific name: Guaiacum sanctum
- Lignum Vitae translates to "Tree of life"
- Species is threatened by habitat loss and overharvesting for its wood and medicinal resin which acts as a stimulant and induces sweating. It has also been known to relieve gout, chronic rheumatism, and is used in blood-purifying compounds and as an anti-inflammatory.
- Range in very few places from Southern Florida and the Bahamas to Central America and the Greater Antilles
- National flower of the Bahamas
- One of two trees who produce a valuable wood called the Lignum Vitae wood
- Produces seeds encased in a yellow shell that are covered in a red skin
- Reaches about 23-25 feet in height with a trunk that has a diameter of 50 cm
- Typically grows in lowland dry forest or scrub and found near the coast at lower elevations
- During the fruiting period the tree may bare fruit for up to six weeks
- Has been known to live up to 1,000 years
Ways we can save the Lignum Vitae population:
- We could preserve the Holywood Lignum Vitae species by going in and planting the trees in new locations to increase the populations.
- We could also regulate international trade for this endangered species.