Guaiacum

Guaiacum officinale

This small tree is very slow growing, reaching about 10 m (33 ft) in height with a trunk diameter of 60 cm (24 in). The tree is essentially evergreen throughout most of its native range. Guaiac, a natural resin extracted from the wood, is a colorless compound that turns blue when placed in contact with substances that have peroxidase activity and then are exposed to hydrogen peroxide. Guaiac cards are impregnated with the resin and are used in determining whether stool contains blood.

Other Details

• Family :
  Zygophyllaceae
• Common Name :
  Roughbark lignum-vitae, guaiacwood or gaïacwood
• Origin :
  America