Common Name (s): Lignum vitae, palo santo, guayacan, holywood, genuine lignum vitae. Scientific Name: Guaiacum officinale and G. sanctum. Distribution: Central America and northern South America. Tree Size: 20-30 ft (6-10 m) tall, 1-2 ft (.3-.6 m) trunk diameter. Average Dried Weight: 78.5 lbs/ft 3 (1,260 kg/m3)

Lignum vitae (/ ˈ l ɪ ɡ n ə m ˈ v aɪ t i,-ˈ v iː t aɪ / [1]), also called guayacan or guaiacum, [2] and in parts of Europe known as Pockholz or pokhout, is a wood from trees of the genus Guaiacum. The trees are indigenous to the Caribbean and the northern coast of South America (e.g., Colombia and Venezuela) and have been an important ...

Dec 29, 2024 · Did you know lignum vitae is incredibly dense? It has an average dried density of about 79 lb/ft³ (or 1,260 kg/m³). This makes it the densest wood in the world and the hardest traded hardwood today. Known as “wood of life” in Latin, it comes from the Caribbean and northern South America.

Argentine lignum vitae (Plectrocarpa sarmientoi), and verawood (Plectrocarpa arborea) are two very closely related wood species, sometimes used interchangeably with one another.

Lignum Vitae Guaiacum sanctum One of the world's densest and oiliest woods. The green to greenish-brown heartwood weighs between 80 to 90 lbs/cubic foot. Long used for its self-lubricating qualities in marine applications such as propeller shaft and rudder shaft bearings, it is also thought to have medicinal and healing properties.

Jan 7, 2023 · Lignum Vitae is a very durable hardwood. In fact, it is considered the densest wood available commercially, with a Janka hardness rating of 4,390 Jankas. This Janka rating is very high, which is even higher than the Brazilian Walnut (3,680 Jankas), Brazilian Teak (3,540 Jankas), Purpleheart (2,890 Jankas), and many other wood species.

Jan 28, 2016 · Lignum vitae is the common name for a group of six species from the genus ‘Guaiacum’, best known for their strength, density, and durability. Of the six species, only two (Guaiacum sanctum and Guaiacum officinale) are commonly used by the woodworking industry.

Lignum vitae is a hardwood species, known by its botanical name Guaiacum officinale and related species (Zygophyllaceae). The heartwood of this timber is typically dark greenish-brown or nearly black, with a strongly interlocked, irregular grain and a very fine texture.

Apr 1, 2024 · Above sea level, lignum vitae's remarkable hardness made it perfect for chopping blocks, block-and-tackle assemblies, and casters. Early woodworking tool manufacturers relied on the wood for mallets, plane soles, and bandsaw guide blocks.

Lignum vitae wood - The heartwood can be dark greenish-brown or nearly black. It has a strongly interlocked, irregular grain, with a very fine texture. Since about 30% of the weight of the wood is guaiac gum, lignus vitae has a only or waxy feel to it. The sapwood is clearly demarcat....