I was at a nursery last workweek and base some honest - to - goodness ironwood trees for sales event .
Ironwood , AKA Lignum vitae , AKA “ Tree of Life , ” or , in this very specific Latin case , Guaiacum officinale , is quite an telling tree . The wood is roughly three fourth dimension the hardness of oak and sink in water . I think it would be really cool to use for guitar persona . Perhaps the bridges and the nuts . Inthis thread , there are pictures of a bass guitar with a Lignum vitae fretboard and bridge .
Here ’s a botanic drawing of the tree :
I was psyched by the uncovering so I purchase two trees .
AsThe Wood Database reports :
“ Lignum Vitae is affect by most to be both the laborious and concentrated Grant Wood in the world . Its durability in submerged or ground - contact applications is also exceptional . Lignum Vitae has been used for propeller lance presence on ships , and its natural crude oil provide self - lubrication that launch the wood excellent wear resistance .
Guaiacum officinale
alas , Lignum Vitae has been overwork to the brink of quenching , and is now an endangered coinage . ”
permit ’s secure that by set some .
One of the two trees I purchase will be embed at a mountain farm where I ’m doing some consulting , the other one will be planted at the stamping ground where I ’ve been imbed gardens . They are a slow - growing tree , so the meter to set is correctly now . When I get my own land , I ’ll establish more .
Image by Dinesh Valke (click for photostream)
Beyond their awesome wood , Lignum vitae tree are also attractive to bees and butterflies , gestate a profusion of beautiful flowers .
Image by Dinesh Valke ( click for photostream )
If you live in South Florida , there is a aboriginal version of Lignum vitae you may grow in your landscaping .
The Miami Herald hasa nice clause covering both versions .
“ G. officinale is aboriginal to the Caribbean ( it ’s the interior flower of Jamaica ) , and parts of Central and South America . G. holy place — or holywood — can also be hollo aboriginal to the Caribbean and parts of Central America , as well as the very Dixieland of South Florida — only Monroe County and Miami - Dade as an scat ornamental . ”
Here ’s a video showing a large Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in bloom of youth :
If you hold up in the correct climate , plant some . It read a broad image of status and is an endangered tree . You ca n’t even spell the wood to the US any longer due to international restrictions on the species . rise your own !
