Guaiacum officinale, lignum vitae
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Guaiacum officinale, lignum vitae
Illustration from the Botany Library Plate Collection held at the Natural History Museum, London
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Media ID 8617243
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10706683
Caryophyllales Eudicot Eurosid Fabidae Guaiacum Lignum Vitae Rosid Angiospermae Dicot Dicotyledon Magnoliophyta Polygonaceae Vitae
EDITORS COMMENTS
Guaiacum officinale, commonly known as lignum vitae or "wood of life," is a remarkable tree belonging to the Zygophyllaceae family, order Caryophyllales, and class Magnoliophyta. This exquisite illustration, taken from the Botany Library Plate Collection held at the Natural History Museum in London, showcases the intricate details of this flowering plant. As an angiosperm, lignum vitae produces seeds enclosed in an ovary, a characteristic feature of angiosperms. This eudicot, specifically, possesses two cotyledons, which are embryonic leaves present in the seed. The tree is a member of the Rosid clade, a large group of flowering plants that includes roses, sunflowers, and legumes. Lignum vitae is native to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and is renowned for its hard, heavy, and durable wood. The tree can grow up to 30 meters tall and has a distinctive, irregular shape. The leaves are simple, alternate, and obovate, with serrated margins. The tree produces small, white or yellow flowers in clusters, which give way to round, black or dark blue fruits. The botanical illustration reveals the delicate beauty of the lignum vitae flower, with its five petals arranged in a radial pattern and its numerous stamens. The stigma, the female reproductive organ, is located at the center of the flower. The intricate veination on the leaves and the detailed structures of the flowers and fruits provide a fascinating glimpse into the complexity of this remarkable plant. Lignum vitae holds significant cultural and medicinal importance, with its wood being used for various purposes, including carving, cabinet making, and as a hardwood substitute for ivory. The tree's bark and resin have been used in traditional medicine for various ailments, including rheumatism, dysentery, and as an antiseptic. This illustration serves as a testament to the beauty and significance of this fascinating plant.
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