Category
page 1Guaiacum

Guaiacum
Guaiacum (), sometimes spelled Guajacum, is a genus of flowering plants in the caltrop family Zygophyllaceae. It contains five species of slow-growing shrubs and trees, reaching a height of approximately but usually less than half of that. All are native to subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas and are commonly known as lignum-vitae, guayacán (Spanish), or gaïac (French). The genus name originated in Taíno, the language spoken by the native Taínos of the Bahamas; it was adopted into English in 1533, the first word in that language of American origin.

Guaiacum officinale
species of plant
lignum vitae
type of wood known for being particularly heavy and hard

Guaiacum sanctum
species of plant
Guaiacum coulteri
species of plant