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Guayacán

Guaiacum
Starr 070727-7629 Guaiacum officinale.jpg
Guaiacum officinale
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Zygophyllales
Family: Zygophyllaceae
Subfamily: Larreoideae
Genus: Guaiacum
L.
Type species
Guaiacum sanctum
L.
Species

Guaiacum angustifolium
Guaiacum coulteri
Guaiacum officinale
Guaiacum sanctum
Guaiacum unijugum


Guaiacum angustifolium
Guaiacum coulteri
Guaiacum officinale
Guaiacum sanctum
Guaiacum unijugum

Guaiacum (/ˈɡw.ə.kəm/), 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 20 m (66 ft) but are 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 Maipurean, 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.

Members of the genus have a variety of uses, including as lumber, for medicinal purposes, and as ornamentals. The trade of all species of Guaiacum is controlled under CITES Appendix II.


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Wikipedia

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