164 



FLORA OF JAMAICA 



Guaiacum 



somewhat obcordate, with the base of the style persisting as a small point. 

 Seed solitary in each cell, ellipsoidal, 12 mm. 1., 8 mm. br. ; seed-coat 

 thick ; embryo in the centre of the thick horny endosperm. 



The wood is very fine, close, and even in grain; it is durable and 

 tough, splitting with very great difficulty. It is excessively hard, equalling 

 ebony in this respect. It is used for wheels and cogs for mills, pulley- 

 blocks, pestles, rulers, policemen's batons, balls for bowls, &c. Weight 



D 



B 



Fig. 52. Guaiacum officinale L. 



.A, Leaves with inflorescence and one C, Ovary cut across X 4. 



fruit X . I), Pistil cut lengthwise X 4. 



B, Flower, with sepals and petals re- E, Ovule much enlarged. 



moved, x 3. F, Fruit cut lengthwise, nat. size. 



(After Berg & Schmidt.) 



"72 to 83 Ibs. per cubic foot. Guaiacum resin is obtained from the wood ; 

 " it is a useful remedy in chronic forms of rheumatism, in syphilitic and 

 gouty affections, scrofula, skin diseases, &c." The wood possesses similar 

 properties, but the action is milder, and it is only now used as an 

 ingredient of the official compound decoction of Sarsaparilla (Bentley and 

 Trimen). 



2. TRIBULUS L. 



Herbs with procumbent branches. Leaves abruptly pinnate, 



opposite, one of each pair alternately smaller than the other or 



.sometimes wanting ; stipules obliquely lanceolate. Flowers 



