Overview
Distribution
Localities documented in Tropicos sources
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
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Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Man. Vasc. Pl. Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1493
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
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SPECIMEN BASED RECORD. Published protolog data.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/9990002
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Anonymous. 1986. List-Based Rec., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S.D.A. Database of the U.S.D.A., Beltsville.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/1103
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Trusted
Wikipedia
Guaiacum angustifolium
Guaiacum angustifolium is a species of flowering plant in the caltrop family, Zygophyllaceae. Common names include Texas Guaiacum, Texas Lignum-vitae, Soapbush and Guayacán. It is native to southern and western Texas[3] in the United States and northern Mexico.[2] The specific name is derived from the Latin words angustus, meaning "narrow," and folius, meaning "leaf."[4]
Contents |
Description
Texas Lignum-vitae is a many branched shrub or small tree, reaching a height of 7 m (23 ft).[5] This evergreen has a dense canopy and short lateral branches.[6]
Leaves
Leaves are 1–3 cm (0.39–1.2 in) long, opposite and pinnately compound, with four to eight pairs of leaflets. The dark green, leathery, linear to linear-spatulate leaflets are 5–16 mm (0.20–0.63 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.12 in) wide. Leaflets fold themselves at night and when exposed to hot sunlight.
Flowers
The small blue to purple flowers are 12–22 mm (0.47–0.87 in) in diameter. They have five sepals, five petals around 1 cm (0.39 in) in length, and ten stamens.[7] The blooming period lasts from March until September,[8] with flowers appearing after rain.[9]
Fruit
The fruit is a flat, leathery capsule 1–2 cm (0.39–0.79 in) in diameter with one to two lobes, sometimes as many as four. Dehiscent locules contain a single shiny, bean-like seed that is usually bright red.[7]
Uses
Like other species in its genus, the wood of G. angustifolium has extreme hardness and density and will sink in water. The sapwood is creamy yellow, while the heartwood is dark purple-brown.[10] The wood is used for fence posts, tool handles, and firewood. Root extracts are used to treat rheumatism and sexually transmitted diseases.[6] Soap can be made from the root bark because it contains saponin; historically soap made in this way would be used to wash wool.[11] The flowers are valued by beekeepers for their consistent nectar production.[12] Texas Lignum-vitae is cultivated as an ornamental because of its drought tolerance, dense foliage, compact size, gnarled branches, and fragrant flowers.[8] It is used in hedges, rock gardens, and xeriscaping.[6]
Ecology
G. angustifolium is a host plant for the catepillars of the Lyside Sulphur (Kricogonia lyside).[13] The leaves contain 16-18% crude protein and are browsed by White-tailed deer.[14]
Conservation
Like other members of its genus, the international trade of Texas Lignum-vitae is restricted by CITES Appendix II. Only seeds, pollen, and finished products ready for retail sale may be legally exported.[15]
References
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Guaiacum angustifolium |
 | Wikispecies has information related to: Guaiacum angustifolium |
- ^ "Guajacum angustifolium - Engelm. Texas Guaiacum". NatureServe Explorer. NatureServe. http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?sourceTemplate=tabular_report.wmt&loadTemplate=species_RptComprehensive.wmt&selectedReport=RptComprehensive.wmt&summaryView=tabular_report.wmt&elKey=SYN.105038&paging=home&save=true&startIndex=1&nextStartIndex=1&reset=false&offPageSelectedElKey=SYN.105038&offPageSelectedElType=species_synonymn&offPageYesNo=true&post_processes=&radiobutton=radiobutton&selectedIndexes=SYN.105038. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
- ^ a b "Taxon: Guaiacum angustifolium Engelm.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2004-04-01. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?18045. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
- ^ "Guayacan, Guajacum, Soapbush, Texas Porlieria". Texas Native Plants Database. Texas A&M University. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/guaiacumangusti.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ Eggli, Urs; Leonard E. Newton (2004). Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names. Birkhäuser. p. 11. ISBN 978-3-540-00489-9. http://books.google.com/books?id=u2n5vusQ1DEC&.
- ^ Richardson, Alfred (1995). Plants of the Rio Grande Delta. University of Texas Press. p. 123. ISBN 978-0-292-77070-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=vF_1X65cDxYC&dq.
- ^ a b c "Guayacan Soap-bush Guaiacum angustifolium Engelm". Native Plants of South Texas. Texas AgriLife Research and Extension at Uvalde. http://uvalde.tamu.edu/herbarium/guan.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
- ^ a b Powell, A. Michael (1998). Trees and Shrubs of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas. University of Texas Press. pp. 203–204. ISBN 978-0-292-75147-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=dgm6yecY5D8C&dq.
- ^ a b Mielke, Judy (1993). Native Plants for Southwestern Landscapes. University of Texas Press. p. 158. ISBN 978-0-292-75147-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=7KFT2hGIFPMC&dq.
- ^ "soapbush Zygophyllaceae Guaiacum angustifolium Engelm.". VTreeID. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. http://www.dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=884. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
- ^ "Guayacán Guaiacum angustifolium Engelm.". Ethnobotany of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands. Texas Beyond History. http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/ethnobot/images/guayacan.html. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
- ^ Irish, Mary (2008). Trees and Shrubs for the Southwest: Woody Plants for Arid Gardens. Timber Press. pp. 205–206. ISBN 978-0-88192-905-8. http://books.google.com/books?id=AyWkIsLDca8C&dq.
- ^ Pellett, Frank Chapman (1920). American Honey Plants. American Bee Journal. p. 237. http://books.google.com/books?id=JpllAAAAMAAJ&vq.
- ^ "Lyside Sulphur Kricogonia lyside (Godart, 1819)". Butterflies and Moths of North America. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1446. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
- ^ "Guayacan (Guajacum angustifolium)". Native Plant List. Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute. http://ckwri.tamuk.edu/research-programs/south-texas-natives/native-plant-list/shrubs/guayacan/. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
- ^ "Guaiacum angustifolia Engelm.". UNEP-WCMC Species Database: CITES-Listed Species. CITES. http://www.unep-wcmc.org/isdb/CITES/Taxonomy/tax-species-result.cfm/isdb/CITES/Taxonomy/tax-species-result.cfm?displaylanguage=eng&Genus=%25Guaiacum%25&source=plants&Species=angustifolia&Country=. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
Source:
Wikipedia
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