Guaiacum Officinale (Noun)
Meaning
Small evergreen tree of Caribbean and southern Central America to northern South America; a source of lignum vitae wood, hardest of commercial timbers, and a medicinal resin.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- Guaiacum officinale is a small evergreen tree native to the Caribbean and southern Central America to northern South America.
- The wood of the Guaiacum officinale tree is highly valued for its durability and is used to make a variety of objects, including tool handles and ship's blocks.
- Guaiacum officinale has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat a range of ailments, including arthritis and gout.
- The resin of the Guaiacum officinale tree is used to make a medicinal extract that is said to have anti-inflammatory properties.
- Guaiacum officinale is also known as lignum vitae, which is Latin for "wood of life", due to its reputation as a cure-all for various health problems.