* GUAIACUM officinale. 

 Common Lignum VitcB. 



DECANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. ZygophyllacejE. 



GUAIACUM Plumier. Calyx 5-phyllus, inaequalis ; sepalis obtusis. 

 Petala 5, unguiculata. Stamina 10, nuda. Ovarium 2-5-loculare, stipltatum, 

 ovulis funicolo longo pendulls, rostratis. Stylus 1 ; stigma simplex. Capsula 

 lignea, 2-5-locularis, angulata, polysperma. Semina pendula. Albumen rimu- 

 losum. 



G, officinale; foliolis 2-3-jugis obovatis obtusis glabris, ramulis pubescentibus, 



pedicellis floribus parilm longloribus, ovario biloculari. 

 G. officinale. Linn, sp.pl.546. Swartz. obs. 168. Macfadyens Flora Jamaic, 



p. 187. Lindley Fl. Med. no. 440. DeCand. prodr. 1. 707. 



There are few species more worth cultivation than this, 

 which nevertheless is seldom seen, except in curious collec- 

 tions. It is a neat and singular-looking stove plant, with 

 bright light green leaves, and it blossoms regularly about 

 midsummer, producing its brilliant blue flowers in abun- 

 dance. The accompanying figure was made in the garden 

 of the Horticultural Society. 



If we were to judge, merely from the technical characters 

 to be found in books, this would not be the species to which 

 the name of G. officinale belongs ; but it will be found by 

 any one who will investigate the matter, that there is no 

 little confusion among the few species or supposed species of 

 this genus, and that the characters assigned to them in the 

 writings of systematical Botanists require modification and a 

 better adjustment. Whether or not this species really pro- 

 duces Lignum Vitas, as is asserted, may admit of some doubt; 

 for it grows extremely slowly, and it is scarcely to be 



* Guayac, the American name. 

 February, 1839. e 



