DESCRIPTION
Product: Guaiacum Wood
Latin Name: Guaiacum officinale
Plant Family: Zygophyllaceae
Other Names: Lingum Vitae, Tree of Life, Guajacum, Bois de Vie, Bois de Gaïac, Bois Saint, Bois de Vie, Gaïac, Guaiac, Guaiac Heartwood, Guaiacum, Guayacán, Guayaco, Palo de Hierro & Pockwood.
Description: Guaicum wood comes from an evergreen tree native to South America and the Caribbean that grows to a height of 10 metres. The leaves are comprised of 4-6 leaflets, and are opposite, pinnately compound with two terminal leaflets and approximately 10-12cm in length. The leaflets are oval and often blunt at the base and tip, leathery and pale glossy green when young, turning dark green as they age, comprised of. The individual leaflets are entire with an oval shape, and sometimes blunt-pointed at both base and apex and 2-5cm in length. The 5-petaled flowers can be solitary or present in clusters, they are 2-2.5cm in diameter, bluish-purple in colour fading to white.
SUGGESTED USE
The wood can be added to incense blends and used as a fixative in pot pourri, a decoction of the wood can be used as a wash for wounds. No other non-medicinal uses are known for this herb.
SHELF LIFE
Shelf life of two years provided that goods are stored in an airtight container in ambient conditions.
