64 SILVA OF NORTH AMERICA. zygophyllace^. 



the PisoniaSj the Citharexylum, the Florida Coccoloba, the Drjpetes, the Bumeliaj the Arclisia, and the 

 Exostema. 



The specific gravity o£ the absolutely dry wood of Guaiacuni smictum produced in Florida is 

 1.1432j a cubic foot of the dry wood weighing 71.24 pounds. The tree is not abundant enouo-h within 

 the Hmits of the United States to give the Florida-grown wood any commercial importance • on the 

 Bahama Islands it is more common, and is the source of all the Lignum-vit« which at different times 

 has been exported in considerable quantities from those islands. 



Guaiaciim sanctum was first distinguished by Oviedo, and it was noticed and described by several 

 of the early authors who wrote upon American plants.^ The fact that it grew within the limits of the 

 United States was first established by Dr. J. L. Blodgett. 



The whiteness of the bark of this tree, its dark green lustrous foliage, and the graceful habit of its 

 branches, make it a striking and attractive object at all seasons of the year; its beauty in the early 

 spring, when the delicate new foHage is unfolding and the branches are covered with the bright blue 

 flowers, is not surpassed by that of any of the plants which inhabit the Florida keys. 



1 Del Guayacum y palo sancto, Moiiardes, Hist. Med. fol. 12 (ed. Guajacum foUis LenOsd, Breyuc, Prodr. ii. 69. 



Sevilla, lu74). Euonymo adjinis , Occidentalis, alatis Rusci foliis, Nuci/era, cortice 



Guajacum, propemodum sine matrice, quihusdam lignum sanctum, ad gemcula,fungoso, Plukeuet, Aim. Bot. 139, t. 94, f. 4. 



Indis Hoaxacan §■ MatlalquauJiitl, Joiiston, Dendrolographia, 426. Guaiacum Jiore cmruko, fimbriato, fructu tetragono, Plumier, Nov. 



Guajacum propemodum sine matrice, C. Bauhin, Pin. 448. PI. Am. Gen. 39. 



Guajacum Americanum alterum, fructu Euonymi, Breyne, Prodr. Guajacum folds pinnatis,foliolis obverse ovatis integerrimis, Eoyon, 



i- 24- Fl. Leyd. Prodr. 268. 



EXPLANATION OF THE PLATE. 



Plate XXVIII. Guaiacum sanctum. 



1. A flowering branch, natural size. 



2. Diagram of a flower. 



3. Vertical section of a flower, the pistil entire, enlarged 



4. Anterior and posterior views of a stamen, enlarged. 



5. Vertical section of a pistil, enlarged. 



6. An ovule, much enlarged. 



7. A fruiting branch, natural size. 



8. Vertical section of a fruit, natural size. 



9. A seed, the outer coating removed, natural size. 



10. Vertical section of a seed, natural size. 



11. An embryo, much enlarged. 



