522 CONTKIBUTIONS FEOM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 



3. POBLIERIA Ruiz & Pav. Fl. Peruv. Chil. Prodr. 55. 1794. 



1. Porlieria angustifolia (Engelm.) A. Gray, PI. Wright. 1: 28. 1852. 



Guaiacum angustifolium Engelm. in Wisliz. Mem. Nortli Mex. 113. 1848. 



Coaliuila to Tamaulipas ; type from Parras, Coahnila. Southwestern Texas. 



Shrub or small tree, sometimes 7 meters high, with a trunk 25 cm. iu 

 diameter, the branches stout, crooked ; leaves pinnate, persistent, the leaflets 

 8 to 12, linear, 1.5 cm. long or shorter ; flowers 1 to 2 cm. broad, sweet-scented, 

 purple; wood hard, compact, J;aking a fine polish, the heartwood dark brown, 

 the sap wood yellow, the specific gravity about 1.10. "GuayacS-n " (Coahuila, 

 Tamaulipas, Texas). 



The bark of the roots is sometimes made into balls and sold in the markets 

 as a kind of " amole " ; it is valued for washing woolen goods, since it does not 

 fade the colors, and is esteemed also as a disinfectant. A decoction of the wood 

 or bark is employed in domestic medicine as a sudorific and vascular stinmlant, 

 especially in rheumatism and venereal diseases ; it is reputed to be used as an 

 emmenagogue. The durable wood is used for fence posts and other purposes. 

 Known in Texas as " soap-bush." 



4. GUAIACUM L. Sp. PI. 381. 1753. 



Trees or shrubs; leaves opposite, abruptly pinnate, the leaflets few, thick, 

 entire, unequal ; flowers large and showy, blue or purple ; fruit an angled 

 capsule. 



Guaiacuiii officinale L., the lignura-vitae, has been reported from Mexico, 

 but probably incorrectly. 



Leaflets broadly oblong or obovate, usually 8 to 15 mm. wide. 1. G. sanctum. 

 Leaflets linear or linear-oblong, usually 3 to 7 mm. wide. 



Ovary pubescent 2. G. palmei-i. 



Ovary glabrous 3. G. coulteri. 



1. Guaiacum sanctum L. Sp. PI. 382. 1753. 



Guaiacum verticale Orteg. Hort. Matr. Dec. 93. 1798. 



Yucatan and probably in Tabasco ; perhaps also in Veracruz. West Indies and 

 southern Florida ; type from Porto Rico. 



Tree, sometimes 10 meters high, the trunk short, the bark thin, pale or white; 

 leaflets 4 to 10, 2 to 3.5 cm. long, glabrous; petals 7 to 11 mm. long; fruit 

 1.4 to 1.7 cm. long; wood resinous, light yellow, becoming green on exposure, 

 very hard, with a characteristic odor, the specific gravity about 1.15. 

 "Guayac^n." 



This species has been reported from many other parts of Mexico, apparently 

 because it has been confused with G. coulteri. The wood is used for railroad 

 ties and other purposes. 



Both G. sanctum and G. officinale L., the latter a West Indian species, are 

 oflacial in the U. S. Pharmacopoeia. The extract of the wood, which is known 

 as " lignum-vitae," has stimulant and diaphoretic properties. It was intro- 

 duced into Europe as early as 1508 by the Spaniards, who had learned that 

 it was used by the Indians as a remedy for syphilis. It was long highly 

 esteemed as a remedy for syphilitic affections, and for gout, rheumatism, 

 scrofula, and cutaneous diseases, but it is now believed to have no distinct 

 influence upon such diseases. Tlie resin also is employed, being stimulant, 

 alterative, diaphoretic, and in large doses purgative. The bark and wood 

 contain saponin. 



One of the species of Guaiacum is illustrated by Hernflndez and treated* 

 at length in a chapter entitled " De Hoaxacan, sen Ligno Sancto." 



' Thesaurus 62-65. 1651. 



