Lignum vitae heartwood is dark greenish brown to almost black and sharply demarcated from the pale yellow or creamcolored sapwood. Lumber exotic lumber lignum vitae wood lumber global. Its durability in submerged or groundcontact applications is. Lignum vitae timber, exotic hardwood whitmores timber. So great was the demand that for a time the wood was sold for as much as 7 gold crowns a pound.
Lignum vitae is a dark green and brown heartwood, oily texture, grain visually resembles animal fur, nice floral scent, one of the most dense woods on earth, turns and polishes wellprized by shipbuilders. Lignum vitae definition is the very hard heavy wood of any of several tropical american guaiacums. Uses, benefits, cures, side effects, nutrients in lignum vitae. Sometimes called brazilian blackwheart, woods in the zollernia species tend to be very dark colored, and very oily. Of the six species, only two guaiacum sanctum and guaiacum officinale are commonly used by the woodworking industry. Find great deals on ebay for lignum vitae and lignum vitae bowls. The lignum vitae tree of life grow very slowly and are small in stature. Lignum vitae argentine lumber turning woodwind instrument hobby wood and instrument lignum vitae wood uk our facility produces birdseye maple lumber curly maple tiger maple. Lignum vitae, guayacan, pockenholz, 4,500 lbf 20,000 n, 4500. This wood species is in cites appendix ii, and is on the iucn red list.
Honduran mahogany the wood database lumber identification hardwood. Lignum vitae can be grown in full sun or partial shade on a wide variety of soils, including alkaline. Names of lignum vitae in various languages of the world are also given. The common name, lignum vitae tree of life or wood of life, comes from its historic medicinal use as a remedy for conditions from arthritis to coughs to syphilis. The name lignumvitae wood of life originated from the supposition that the material was possessed of extraordinary remedial powers.
Reputable wood dealers should be able to provide import documents to verify the identity of the wood and that it was harvested legally. It is small and slow growing, reaching only about 7 m in height with a trunk diameter of 50 cm. Because of oily resins, requires special surface treatments for satisfactory gluing. Used, lignum vitae bowls a complete set of 1930s lignum vitae bowls spangle is 2 green glass tube beads, 2 wood, 2 green glass tubes, 2 wood and a wooden headbead heat etched with lignum vitae. The name lignumvitae wood of life originated from the supposition that the wood was possessed of extraordinary remedial power. The heartwood is very resistant to attack by decay fungi, termites, and marine borers. It was used in europe so early as 1508, and attained great celebrity as a remedy for lues venerea. It is best known for its extremely dense and beautiful hardwood, used in woodworking. Desert ironwood the wood database lumber identification hardwood. Lignum vitae is the hardest and densest of all commercially traded wood species, and that hardness has made the wood useful for everything from electrical insulators and submarine drive shafts to cricket balls. A slow growing and small tree, occasionally growing up to 50ft. Lignum vitae wood was imported from the caribbean from the 16th century. Save lignum vitae lumber to get email alerts and updates on your ebay feed.
Click on the links below to view wood photos, descriptions and sources. We are a distributor and marketer of msr as well as other lumber products for the residential and industrial building components industry. When purchasing wood, be sure to inquire about grain and figure. Woodfinder found 34 suppliers in our database that match your search criteria. The trees are indigenous to the caribbean and the northern coast of south america and have been an important export crop to europe since the beginning of the 16th century. Lignum vitae is one of the numerous durable, hard, and dense woods referred to as ironwood. The janka hardness test measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear. Data is based on small, clear, airdried samples unless specified.
Find great deals on ebay for lignum vitae lumber and lignum vitae wood. Book depository books with free delivery worldwide. Skid is a razor sharp creation inspired by mother nature. Sometimes called argentine lignum vitae, this wood is a gem. Chamise the wood database lumber identification hardwood. Im working my way alphabetically by botanical name, so check out the latest added wood to see where im at in the queue. Find out more about its fine texture or why its prone to splitting during drying. Lignum vitae, latin for tree of life, is the national tree of the bahamas. It is also the national tree of the bahamas and the. You sent a bigger sample than i expected and requested nothing in return.
Above sea level, lignum vitae s remarkable hardness made it perfect for chopping blocks, blockandtackle assemblies, and casters. Lignumvitae tree selection landscape plants edward f. Your source for lumber, veneer and sawmill services. Is best all that makes the wood database unique, distilled into one potent book. Lignum vitae is a wood, also called guayacan or guaiacum, and in parts of europe known as pockholz, from trees of the genus guaiacum. Timberline exotic hardwoods specialist timber lignum. The little giant plank converts any of our ladders into a simple scaffolding. The name lignum vitae wood of life originated from the supposition that the material was possessed of extraordinary remedial powers. Eric thank you for all the hard work you have put into this book. The head is turned from a solid block of wood and the handle extends all the way through the head and is secured with a wedged joint at the bottom. Genuine lignum vitae is now nearly impossible to get, and our last real shipment was in 2017. Tree of life or lignum vitae united states botanic garden. Lignum vitae will also dull cutters, and overall is considered quite difficult to work.
No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Fine dimensional changes when dried lumber is subjected to variations in humidity during service. Vitex lignumvitae, known in australia as yellow hollywood or lignumvitae also used for other species, is a rainforest tree of eastern australia. Not only is it extremely strong and dense, it is a selflubricating wood. Lignum vitae is a small native tree that produces dark blue to purple flowers several times a year. Similar in colour and weight, it lacks the desirable working characteristics of real lignum. Lignum vitae is typically sold by the pound, instead of the more common boardfoot measurement, and since it is the heaviest wood in the world, this also makes it considerably expensive. Identifying and using hundreds of woods worldwide all that makes the wood database unique, distilled into one potent book. Also, due to its high oil content and density, its very difficult to get a strong and reliable glue joint.
Coffeetree endgrain 10x plant cell, guide book, anatomy, hardwood. A wide variety of lignum vitae options are available to you, such as red, blue, and black. Bow woods from a mathematical perspective top ten hardest woods. Lignum vitae is the common name for a group of six species from the genus guaiacum, best known for their strength, density, and durability. Jul 17, 20 lignum vitae, latin for tree of life, is the national tree of the bahamas. Lignum vitae provides food and shelter for birds and is a nectar source for butterflies and bees. Lignum vitae is one of the heaviest woods in the trade.
I am wondering how to determine its value as well as whether it is actually made of lignum vitae wood or not. Lignum vitae is regarded by most to be both the heaviest and hardest wood in the world. Posted in rknives by udarkeive 56 points and 6 comments. Please refer to the catalogue or timberlines shop for uptodate prices. The natural range of distribution is in dry, subtropical or tropical rainforest from the richmond river, new south wales to cape york peninsula at the northernmost tip of australia. Guitars backs and sides, turned objects, and knife handles. Lignumvitae can be grown in full sun or partial shade on a wide variety of soils, including alkaline. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Im slowly grinding my way through roughly 800 wood species that have still yet to be listed on the site.
I have a lamp that was given to us as a wedding gift in the 70s. Lignum vitae herb uses, benefits, cures, side effects. Above sea level, lignum vitaes remarkable hardness made it perfect for chopping blocks, blockandtackle assemblies, and casters. It has a characteristic oily feel due to the resin content that may be as high as onefourth of the airdry weight. Finger love handmade carved natural wood hair stick carp leap gift box set fish lignum vitae wood 4.
Among commercially available hardwoods, it is widely regarded as the heaviest and. Also known as holywood lignumvitae, holywood or guaiacum sanctum is a one of the flowering tree species that yield the valuable lignum vitae wood. A study of the woods of the zygophyllaceae with reference to the true lignumvitae of commerceits sources, properties, uses, and subst record, samuel j. Other common names include rough bark lignumvitae, guaiacwood, pockholz, and tree of life. Plants will easily tolerate wet or dry soil, wind, and salt, making it an ideal choice especially for seaside plantings. The original lignum vitae guaiacum is latin for wood of life, and derives from its medicinal resin used to treat a variety of medical conditions from coughs to arthritis, and chips of the wood can also be used to brew a tea.
Native to the caribbean and the northern coast of south america, lignum vitae or guaiacum officinale is a small and slowgrowing tree of about 3 12 m tall and 60 cm in trunk diameter, with a dense crown and crooked bole. One gonsalvo ferrand has the reputation of having carried it to europe about 1 508. Angico is a tropical wood known for its density and heavy weight. Alexander, i did not see these pieces prior to asking you for a small sample piece of lignum vitae. Worldwide woods, ranked by hardness over 500 woods arranged into eight geographic regions and ranked by janka hardnessall on one 24. Other common names include rough bark lignum vitae, guaiacwood, pockholz, and tree of life. Braving working with lignum vitae wood turning pens. The very hardness for which the wood was sought out and celebrated can bring challenges to wood turners, but the effort might well be worth the patience required to work with it. Greenish brown to brown with a tight and pronounced interlocked grain, very dense, waxy with selflubricating qualities, hard wearing in almost all the contexts in which lignum vitae guiaicum spp. These flowers have five petals and usually measure just over a centimeter across. Lignum vitae guaiacum officinale aside gerald singer. Lignum vitae herb uses, benefits, cures, side effects, nutrients.
Guaiacum officinale grows 10 to 30 feet tall, has blue or sometimes white flowers, and light to dark brown seeds. Lignum forest products is a customer focused, value added organization specializing in msr lumber and western red cedar. A study of the woods of the zygophyllaceae with reference to the true lignum vitae of commerceits sources, properties, uses, and subst record, samuel j. Lignum vitae is a wood, also called guayacan or guaiacum, and in parts of europe known as.
The wood was once very important for applications requiring a material with its extraordinary combination of strength, toughness, and density. Guaiacum sanctum lignum vitae, guaiacum, holy wood pfaf plant. Native to the caribbean and the northern coast of south america, lignum vitae or guaiacum officinale is a small and slowgrowing tree of about 3 12 m tall and 60 cm in trunk diameter, with a. The photos in our wood library generally show the color and texture of average samples of the woods. In woodworking terminology, the term hardwood is not strictly a term referring. Viewing 4 posts 1 through 4 of 4 total author posts. Ive bought 4 wood identification books within the past 6 months, i. Its also the worlds densest wood, and has such unusual properties that the uss nautilus, the worlds first nuclearpowered submarine, has its aft main shaft strut bearings made out of the stuff. The bottom of it reads lignum vitae lamp company, designer david kongas, long key florida, 2 march 1978 it is a very large and heavy lamp. Identifying and using hundreds of woods worldwide by eric.
By eric meier in the humanity of forest lignum vitae is the stuff of legends. Also known as holywood lignum vitae, holywood or guaiacum sanctum is a one of the flowering tree species that yield the valuable lignum vitae wood. How lignum vitae is effective for various diseases is listed in repertory format. Products, services or species listings include lignum vitae.
Argentine lignum vitae bulnesia sarmientoi and verawood bulnesia arborea are not lignum vitae and are not the same as lignum vitae. It is a stunning tree which produces beautiful blue flowers, either solitary or in clusters. The wood turns and shapes well and takes a high polish. Guaiacum sanctum lignum vitae, guaiacum, holy wood pfaf.
It is also the larval host plant for lyside sulphur butterflies. Genuine lignum vitae guiacum officinale from griffin exotic wood. Shcgs online database of resources relating to all types of history collections. I feel honored to actually have a piece of wood that is probably a leftover piece from one of these two masterpieces you created. How to tell genuine lignum vitae from argentine lignum vitae. Lignum vitae all righteous woods exotic woods wood burls. How to tell genuine lignum vitae from argentine lignum vitae argentine, botany. Before polymers, alloys and composites, the wood of guaiacum officinale, also known as tree of life, was extremely important due to its combination of strength, toughness and density. However, lignum vitae is an exceptional wood for turning on the lathe, and finishes well.
The wood is sometimes used as a substitute for lignum vitae. Lignumvitae tree selection landscape plants edward. Early woodworking tool manufacturers relied on the wood for mallets, plane soles, and bandsaw guide blocks. Some suppliers are now saying they are selling lignum vitae when they are actually selling argentine lignum vitae or even verawood.
Click on the company names below to view their product listings and contact information. Its unique olive green color, delicate feathered grain pattern, and otherworldly rot resistance only serves to add to its aura. It makes an excellent substitute for lignum vitae, the traditional mallet wood. Too small to be a viable timber tree, this woods colorful grain and high. Guaiacum officinale lignum vitae, guaiacum, guayacan pfaf. Vitex lignum vitae, known in australia as yellow hollywood or lignum vitae also used for other species, is a rainforest tree of eastern australia. The natural range of distribution is in dry, subtropical or tropical rainforest from the richmond river, new south wales to cape york peninsula at the northernmost tip of. The name lignum vitae wood of life originated from the supposition that the wood was possessed of extraordinary remedial power. Lignum vitae the wood database lumber identification.
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