Guaiacum sanctum L.

  • Authority

    Britton, Nathaniel L. & Millspaugh, Charles F. 1920. The Bahama Flora.

  • Family

    Zygophyllaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Guaiacum sanctum L.

  • Description

    Species Description - A tree, sometimes 10 m. high, the bark pale, the branches spreading or pendulous. Leaves 4-10 cm. long; leaflets 4-10, oblong to obovate or oblanceolate, 2-3.5 cm. long, sessile, glabrous, coriaceous at maturity, usually apiciilate or mueronate; stipules about 3 mm. long, pubescent, usually caducous; flowers solitary or several, on pubescent peduncles shorter than the leaves; sepals obovate or oblong-obovate, 5-7 mm. long, pubescent; petals blue or purple, broadly obovate, 7-11 mm. long, glabrous, rounded at the apex; fruit broadly obovoid, yellow to orange, 14-17 mm. long; seeds ellipsoid, the aril scarlet.

  • Distribution

    Coppices and scrub-lands, throughout the islands from Abaco and Great Bahama to Watling's, Inagua, Anguilla Isles and North Caicos : Florida ; Cuba to Puerto Rico ; Yucatan. Lignum Vitae.

    Great Abaco Bahamas South America| Inagua Bahamas South America| Anguilla South America| Turks and Caicos Islands South America| Florida United States of America North America| Cuba South America| Puerto Rico South America| Yucatán Mexico North America|