Common Name: Lignum Vitae

General Information

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[, ].
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[].
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[]. Populations have declined due to collection of wild plants and the removal of natural vegetation for agricultural purposes or developments in the tourist industry[]. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Central America - Costa Rica north to Mexico, Florida and the Caribbean.

Habitat

Lowland, deciduous, tropical forest, where it is largely confined to dry, exposed sites, and is often the predominant species and where the soil is very dry at least part of the year at elevations from around sea level to 700 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 100 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 28°c, but can tolerate 20 - 34°c[]. It can be killed by temperatures of 1°c or lower[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 500 - 2,000mm[].
Can be grown in full sun or partial shade on a wide variety of soils, including alkaline[]. Plants will easily tolerate wet or dry soil, wind, and salt, making it an ideal choice especially for seaside plantings[]. It grows well in shallow soils, particularly in limestone areas, well-drained low areas, low foothills subject to hot dry winds, and rocky limestone regions[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 7.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8[].
Young trees commence flowering when about 6 - 8 years old[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Although considered to be less useful than G. Officinale, in practice the wood and resin from this tree are used medicinally in much the same way as that species[].
In particular, the wood is used as a mild laxative and diuretic. For tonsillitis it is given in powdered form. It is specially useful for treating rheumatoid arthritis, also in cases of chronic rheumatism and gout where it relieves the pain and inflammation between the attacks, and can lessen their recurrence if doses are continued. It acts as an acrid stimulant, increasing the heat of the body and promoting the circulation. When the decoction is taken hot and the body is kept warm, it acts as a diaphoretic, and if cool it works as a diuretic. It is also largely used for treating secondary syphilis, skin diseases and scrofula[].

The resins obtained from wood, bark, leaves, and flowers are used in some pharmaceutical preparations[].
The resin obtained from the heartwood is diuretic and mildly laxative[].

Other Uses

A brown to reddish-brown resin is obtained from the heartwood[]. It is used for making small objects where strength, hardiness and weight are required[]. The resin contains guaiaconic acid, guaiaretic acid, vanillin and guaiac yellow[]. It is obtained by boring a log longitudinally then heating it in a sloping position. This causes the resin to melt and flow from the log[]. The wood can also be chipped and then boiled in water, which causes the resin to float to the surface[].

The leaves are sometimes used as a substitute for soap[].

Lignum vitae is one of the heaviest of all woods, sinking under its weight instead of floating in water[]. The heartwood is a dark greenish brown to almost black, becoming even darker after exposure to air and light[]. It is readily distinguished from the narrow, pale yellow or cream-coloured sapwood[]. The wood is extremely hard and heavy; very fine and uniform in texture with a heavily interlocked grain; oily, due to a resin content (guaiac content) that constitutes about 25% of the dry weight; turns and shapes well and takes a high polish; very resistant to attack by decay fungi, termites, and marine borers[]. Because of the oily resins, the wood requires special surface treatments for satisfactory gluing. It does not require preservation due to its high guaiac resin content and high wood density[]. The wood is used in bearings, bushing blocks, pulley sheaves, mallet heads, and turnery. It was once popular for use in the manufacture of bowling balls. Its most noted use is in bearings and bushing blocks for the propeller shafts of ships because of its self-lubrication and hardness[, ].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as ripe. Immersing them in running water (at 20 °c) for 24 hours before sowing improves germination[]. The seed is sown at a depth of 1 cm in containers of sandy compost. Germination begins 6 - 8 days after sowing and ends in 16 - 20 days[]. Fresh seeds have 40 - 60% germination in nurseries[]. When the seedlings are 6 cm tall, they are transferred to nursery bags. Seedlings are ready for outplanting 1 year after sowing, when they reach 30 - 40 cm in height[].
Seeds can be stored for 1 month at 5 - 8 °C. They lose viability in less than 1 month if stored at ambient temperature and humidity[].
Fruits must be collected from the soil very early in the morning to avoid seed predation by rodents[]. The fruits are placed on the floor and dried for 7 days in the shade; later the fruit pericarp is removed with running water to extract the seeds. The seeds are then dried in the shade and stored in hermetic containers. Seeds average 20,000 per kg[].

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