lignum vitae

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lignum vitae

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

lignum vitae [Lat.,=wood of life], tropical American evergreen tree of the genus Guaiacum. The hard, dense, and extremely durable wood, obtained chiefly from G. officinale and G. sanctum, is used for ship construction, butcher blocks, and other articles requiring strength and hardness. The trees are cultivated to some extent in Florida and California for ornament. They also yield guaiacum, a gum resin used in certain drugs. Various other hardwoods of Australasia (e.g., the acacia and eucalyptus) are also called lignum vitae. Lignum vitae is classified in several orders in the division Magnoliophyta , class Magnoliopsida, order Sapindales, family Zygophyllaceae.

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lignum vitae

The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea | 2006 | © The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea 2006, originally published by Oxford University Press 2006. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

lignum vitae, the hard smooth wood of the guaiacum tree, grown in the West Indies. It had many maritime uses, particularly for the deadeyes and chesstrees of sailing vessels and the sheaves of wooden blocks. It stood up well to the wear caused by ropes, and its smoothness allowed a rope to render through it easily. One principal marine use during the 19th century was as a sea-water self-lubricating bush for the stern tubes of early screw steamships. It was first introduced for this purpose in 1854 by the marine engine builder John Penn, and until the introduction of more modern methods some 40 years later, it solved the problem of leaking stern bearings.

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lignum vitae

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | | © A Dictionary of Plant Sciences 1998, originally published by Oxford University Press 1998. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

lignum vitae (timber of Guaiacum officinale) See ZYGOPHYLLACEAE.

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MICHAEL ALLABY. "lignum vitae." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 27 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "lignum vitae." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (December 27, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-lignumvitae.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "lignum vitae." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved December 27, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-lignumvitae.html

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As strong as the Lignum Vitae
Newspaper article from: The Weekly Gleaner; 8/5/2004; 449 words ; THE NATIONAL flower of Jamaica is the Lignum Vitae (Guiacum officinale). The Lignum Vitae was found here by Christopher Columbus...sailing the 'Seven Seas'. Because of this, Lignum Vitae and Jamaica are closely associated in shipyards...
Treen. (antiques made from wood) (Market Antiques)
Magazine article from: Interior Design; 7/1/1994; ; 700+ words ; ...most pieces of treen, it is made of lignum vitae, which was the only tree known at...in diameter without jointing. Lignum vitae has other advantages as well...for the home. The popularity of lignum vitae did not preclude the use of...
Geographer disputes site where Columbus landed
Newspaper article from: Chicago Sun-Times; 10/22/1989; ; 509 words ; ...the expedition landed in 1492 on Lignum Vitae Cay, far to the north of the other...The ships then landed at adjacent Lignum Vitae Cay. In 1986, the National...said, but Great Harbour Cay and Lignum Vitae Cay fill the bill. Joseph...
Triumphant exhibition led to honour
Newspaper article from: Western Morning News, The Plymouth (UK); 4/26/2008; 700+ words ; ...of treen is a pair of 19th century lignum vitae candlesticks for pounds300-pounds400...would light the way for the fine lignum vitae lidded wassail bowl with its...a 19th century inkstand, also in lignum vitae, from France, offered with...
Boxwood tower will spice up treen collection
Newspaper article from: Western Morning News, The Plymouth (UK); 10/20/2007; 700+ words ; ...cedar, oak or ash, and of course, lignum vitae the heaviest and most expensive of...is anticipated. An 18th century lignum vitae two tier canister with a lower...pounds400 and an early 19th century lignum vitae coffee grinder calls for a...
A lesson on history of bowling balls and pins
Newspaper article from: Herald News, The (Joliet, IL); 4/2/2002; ; 700+ words ; ...wooden bowling balls were made of lignum vitae, right? Not exactly, according...called a "cheese," was made of lignum vitae. An American nine pin of the...tenpins were maple and balls were lignum vitae, an exceptionally hard tropical...
OBITUARIES
Newspaper article from: Evansville Courier & Press (2007-Current); 6/14/2008; 700+ words ; ...Ind. - Dominick Romeo, 88, died June 12, 2008, at Crestview Convalescent Center. He was a woodshop foreman at Lignum Vita Inc., World War II Army veteran and member of Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church in Bayonne, N.J. Surviving...
Consider long legislation's final effects.(LOCAL NEWS)
Newspaper article from: Telegram & Gazette (Worcester, MA); 12/3/2007; 700+ words ; ...I can clearly remember the day I stood in front of a lignum vitae tree, considering long which of its branches would do me more good than harm. The lignum vitae, which bears Jamaica's national flower, is considered...
Improving the performance of wooden journal bearings.
Magazine article from: Forest Products Journal; 11/1/2005; ; 700+ words ; ...continuing into the 20th century. Wood known as lignum vitae, from Guaiacum spp. Trees grown in tropical America...the slow-growing tree is increasingly scarce and lignum vitae is rarely used in new applications (Steuernagle 2001...
Singer's island hideaway a stop for lucky
Newspaper article from: Chicago Sun-Times; 5/20/2007; ; 700+ words ; ...coastlines. Indigenous orchids, wild berries, and rare Lignum vitae (Tree of Life) grow on the land. The Tree of Life...turn their journeys into races. The hardwood from the Lignum vitae tree was adapted for bearings of propeller shafts on...

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