View source for Guaiacum

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Guaiacum
|accepted_authority=Linnaeus
|publications={{Treatment/Publication
|title=Sp. Pl.
|place=1: 381. 1753
|year=1753
}}
|common_names=Lignum vitae
|basionyms=
|synonyms=
|hierarchy=Zygophyllaceae;Guaiacum
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Zygophyllaceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Guaiacum]]</div></div>
|etymology=Spanish mispronunciation of "Huaicum," Bahamas Islands Taino Amerindians' name for the tree and the medicine derived from its resin
|volume=Volume 12
|mention_page=page 29, 35
|treatment_page=page 34
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-d0_s0" data-properties="whole_organism growth form;whole_organism growth form"><b>Shrubs </b>or trees;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s1" data-properties="branch orientation;branch orientation;branch shape;branch fragility or size;branch pubescence;branch pubescence">branches spreading or straggling, slightly angled, stout, hairy, becoming glabrate.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s2" data-properties="leaf arrangement;leaf architecture or arrangement;leaf architecture"><b>Leaves </b>opposite or fascicled [sometimes crowded on short lateral branchlets], even-pinnately compound;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s3" data-properties="stipule duration;stipule duration;stipule fragility;stipule growth form or texture;stipule shape;stipule shape;apex shape;apex shape;apex architecture">stipules usually deciduous, sometimes persistent, stiff or herbaceous, subulate or ovate, apex acute to acuminate, usually mucronulate, sometimes spinescent;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s4" data-properties="petiolule presence;petiolule quantity">petiolules absent or nearly so;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s5" data-properties="leaflet atypical quantity;leaflet quantity;leaflet arrangement;leaflet fusion;leaflet shape;leaflet shape;leaflet shape;leaflet shape;leaflet size;leaflet position;leaflet position;leaflet size;base orientation or shape;apex shape;apex shape;apex shape;apex texture;apex texture;surface pubescence">leaflets [2–] (4–) 6–16, opposite, distinct, [narrowly] elliptic to linear-oblong, linear-spatulate, obliquely oblong, or obovate [ovate], somewhat unequal in size, basal and middle [apical] pairs largest, base oblique, apex obtuse or rounded [acute or retuse] and mucronate, [membranous] subcoriaceous or coriaceous, surfaces glabrous [hairy to glabrate].</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s6" data-properties="pedicel orientation;pedicel orientation;bract size"><b>Pedicels </b>in axils of minute bracts [crowded on short lateral branchlets], erect or spreading.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s7" data-properties="flower architecture or arrangement or growth form;flower quantity;flower architecture or course;flower architecture"><b>Flowers </b>solitary to several [many] together, slightly irregular by twisting of petals;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s8" data-properties="sepal duration;sepal quantity;sepal fusion;sepal coloration;sepal size;margin prominence;apex shape;apex pubescence">sepals deciduous, 4–5, slightly connate basally, green, unequal, margins undifferentiated, apex obtuse, hairy;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s9" data-properties="petal duration;petal quantity;petal arrangement;petal orientation;petal architecture;petal coloration;petal coloration;petal condition;petal coloration;petal shape;base shape;apex shape">petals ± persistent, 4–5, imbricate, spreading, twisted, blue to purple, rarely white [violet], drying yellow, obovate to elliptic, base clawed, apex rounded to lobed or notched;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s10" data-properties="nectary shape">nectary annular;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s11" data-properties="stamen quantity;stamen variability">stamens 8–10, ± equal;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s12" data-properties="all fusion;all shape;base architecture;basal scale size">filaments free, subulate or base slightly winged, sometimes with small basal scale;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s13" data-properties="anther shape;anther shape">anthers sagittate or cordate;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s14" data-properties="ovary shape;ovary architecture or structure in adjective form;ovary pubescence;ovary pubescence;stalk height or length or size">ovary on short stalk, 2–5-lobed, 2–5-locular, glabrous or hairy;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s15" data-properties="ovule quantity">ovules 8–10 per locule;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s16" data-properties="style duration">style persisting, forming beak on fruit;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s17" data-properties="stigma size">stigma minute.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s18" data-properties="fruits capsule coloration;fruits capsule shape;fruits capsule shape;fruits capsule shape;fruits capsule architecture;base shape;base width;base texture;base architecture;base architecture;base dehiscence;stalk height or length or size"><b>Fruits </b>capsules, [green] becoming greenish yellow to bright orange [brown], obovoid to obcordiform, flattened, 2–5-lobed, 2–5-winged, base narrowed into short stalk, broadest apically, coriaceous, smooth or reticulate, septicidally dehiscent.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s19" data-properties="seed quantity;seed life cycle;seed coloration;seed coloration;seed coloration;seed coloration;seed coloration;seed shape;locule quantity;aril width;aril coloration"><b>Seeds </b>1 per locule, 1–5 maturing per fruit, yellowish-brown, brown, or black, ellipsoid to ovoid, surrounded by thick fleshy red aril.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|distribution=sc;se United States;Mexico;West Indies;Central America;n South America
|discussion=<p>Species ca. 6 (2 in the flora).</p><!--
--><p>Guaiacum wood is hard and resinous, long used in turnery and medicine. Several species are grown as ornamentals for their showy flowers in southern Florida, southern Arizona, Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America. Guaiacum officinale Linnaeus is known from Florida not only in cultivation, but also as a local escape; however, it has not become naturalized. It can easily be distinguished from G. sanctum by its leaves having only (2–)4–6 shiny, green, obovate leaflets that are 15–35(–60) × 25–35 mm. The fruits are 2-lobed and contain only 1 or 2 seeds.</p>
|tables=
|references=
}}<!--

--><div class="treatment-key">
==Key==
<div class="treatment-key-group">
  
{| class="wikitable fna-keytable"
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Leaves 1–3 cm; leaflets 8–16; capsules obcordiform, flattened, 2(–4)-lobed, ± 2(–4)-winged, hairy.
|[[Guaiacum angustifolium|Guaiacum angustifolium]]
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Leaves (4–)6–10 cm; leaflets (4–)6–8(–10); capsules obovoid, 4–5-lobed, 4–5–winged, glabrous.
|[[Guaiacum sanctum|Guaiacum sanctum]]
|}
</div></div><!--

-->{{#Taxon:
name=Guaiacum
|authority=Linnaeus
|rank=genus
|parent rank=family
|synonyms=
|basionyms=
|family=Zygophyllaceae
|distribution=sc;se United States;Mexico;West Indies;Central America;n South America
|reference=None
|publication title=Sp. Pl.
|publication year=1753
|special status=
|source xml=https://bibilujan@bitbucket.org/aafc-mbb/fna-fine-grained-xml.git/src/84153f6d59a0a91d69695978a64cee7560374f8e/V12/V12_1030.xml
|genus=Guaiacum
|all fusion=free
|all shape=subulate
|anther shape=cordate;sagittate
|apex architecture=spinescent
|apex pubescence=hairy
|apex shape=rounded;lobed or notched
|apex texture=coriaceous;subcoriaceous
|aril coloration=fleshy red
|aril width=thick
|basal scale size=small
|base architecture=reticulate;smooth;winged
|base dehiscence=dehiscent
|base orientation or shape=oblique
|base shape=narrowed;clawed
|base texture=coriaceous
|base width=broadest
|bract size=minute
|branch fragility or size=stout
|branch orientation=straggling;spreading
|branch pubescence=glabrate;hairy
|branch shape=angled
|flower architecture=twisting
|flower architecture or arrangement or growth form=solitary
|flower architecture or course=irregular
|flower quantity=several
|fruits capsule architecture=2-5-winged
|fruits capsule coloration=greenish yellow;bright orange
|fruits capsule shape=2-5-lobed;flattened;obovoid;obcordiform
|leaf architecture=compound
|leaf architecture or arrangement=fascicled
|leaf arrangement=opposite
|leaflet arrangement=opposite
|leaflet atypical quantity=2;#6
|leaflet fusion=distinct
|leaflet position=middle;basal
|leaflet quantity=#6;16
|leaflet shape=elliptic;linear-oblong linear-spatulate obliquely oblong or obovate
|leaflet size=largest;unequal
|locule quantity=1;5
|margin prominence=undifferentiated
|nectary shape=annular
|ovary architecture or structure in adjective form=2-5-locular
|ovary pubescence=hairy;glabrous
|ovary shape=2-5-lobed
|ovule quantity=8;10
|pedicel orientation=spreading;erect
|petal architecture=twisted
|petal arrangement=imbricate
|petal coloration=yellow;white;blue;purple
|petal condition=drying
|petal duration=persistent
|petal orientation=spreading
|petal quantity=4;5
|petal shape=obovate;elliptic
|petiolule presence=absent
|petiolule quantity=nearly
|seed coloration=black;brown;black;brown;yellowish-brown
|seed life cycle=maturing
|seed quantity=1
|seed shape=ellipsoid;ovoid
|sepal coloration=green
|sepal duration=deciduous
|sepal fusion=connate
|sepal quantity=4;5
|sepal size=unequal
|stalk height or length or size=short;short
|stamen quantity=8;10
|stamen variability=equal
|stigma size=minute
|stipule duration=persistent;deciduous
|stipule fragility=stiff
|stipule growth form or texture=herbaceous
|stipule shape=ovate;subulate
|style duration=persisting
|surface pubescence=glabrous
|whole_organism growth form=tree;shrub
}}<!--

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