LEATHERJACKET LIGNUM-VITAE. 233 



Lignum-vitae (Guaidcum officindle L. : Order Zygophylldcece). 

 Colombia, Venezuela, Jamaica, Cuba, Hayti, but chiefly St. 

 Domingo and the Bahamas. Cuba "Guayacan." Height 20 40 

 ft. ; diam. 12 ft. S.G. 13931248. W 6083. E 508498 

 tons. /4-8S 7-18. /*7-14. fc 3-4 4-4. fs -447 1-246. E246 

 Ibs. Sapwood dingy yellow, J 1 in. broad, as durable as the 

 heart, some of it being, therefore, left on to preserve the rest 

 from splitting ; heart blackish with a greenish tint ; pith-rays not 

 recognizable and annual rings scarcely so; very heavy, hard, 

 strong, and close-grained, with fibres running obliquely both 

 radially and tangentially, so that it can hardly be split, and 

 containing 25 per cent, of gum-resin, which renders it almost 

 imperishable. It is liable to cup-shake when more than 10 in. in 

 diameter. Imported in lengths of 6 12 ft. up to 10 in. diam. 

 and 3 6 ft. when of greater diam., realizing 5 18 per ton. 

 Used for ships' blocks, pestles, mortars, skittle-balls, rulers, 

 string-boxes, etc. Among the ancients and in France the name 

 has been applied to Tetraclinis artkuldta. [See 'Arar.] 



Lignum vit33 in Australia (i) Acacia falcdta [See Myall, 

 Bastard] (ii) Myrtus semenioides [See Myrtle, White], (iii) 

 Eucalyptus polydnthema [See Box, Red], (iv) Phylldnthus Ferdindndi 

 [See Beech, White], (v) Vttex lignum-vitce A. Cunn. (Order 

 Verbendcece). North-eastern Australia. Height 50 70 ft.; diam. 

 1J 2 ft. Blackish, hard, close-grained. Useful, but not yet 

 known to cabinet-makers, (vi) Dodoiuva viscdsa L. (Order Sapin- 

 ddcece). Found throughout the tropics. "Switch-sorrel" of 

 Jamaica. Sapwood white, heart dark-brown, in some varieties 

 greenish- black, streaked with rose, very hard, close-grained, and 

 durable. Used in India for engraving, turning, tool-handles and 

 walking-sticks, and suited for all the uses of the true Lignum-vitse. 



Lignum-vitse in British Guiana (Ixdra fdrrea Benth. = Sidero- 

 de'ndron trifldrum Vahl : Order Rubidcece). Known also as 

 "Hackia," or "West Indian" or "Martinique Ironwood." 

 Height 3060 ft. ; diam. 12 ft. W 65-8. E 1027 tons. / 6-72. 

 fc 4-85. fs -457. Dark-brown and hard. Valuable for cogs, 

 shafts, or furniture. 



