Zygophyllaceae

Guaiacum Plum. ex L.

First published in Sp. Pl.: 381 (1753), orth. cons.
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Florida, Texas to Venezuela, Caribbean.

Descriptions

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit
Trees with hard, heavy, resinous wood and smooth bark; stipules minute, soon falling
Morphology Leaves Leaflets
Leaflets 2 or 3 pairs, entire, inequaelateral at least at base
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers pedunculate in distal leaf-axils; sepals 4 or 5, broadly ovate, unequal; petals 4 or 5, obovate, blue or purple (rarely white), slightly clawed
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 8–10 on an inconspicuous disc, with filiform filaments
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary short-stalked, 2–5-carpellate with 2–5 lobes and locules; ovules 8–10 in each locule
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit a 2–5 winged capsule, septicidal; seed solitary, enclosed in a fleshy aril.
Distribution
A neotropical genus of 6 species.
[Cayman]

Common Names

unknown
Cuban lignum vitae, San Dominigo lignum vitae, holy wood, lignum vitae, palo santo, thin sap

Sources

  • EBC Common Names

    • Common Names from Kew's Economic Botany Collection https://www.kew.org/science/collections-and-resources/collections/economic-botany-collection

  • Flora of the Cayman Islands

    • Flora of the Cayman Islands
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Wood Anatomy Microscope Slides

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/