The Lignum Vitae (Guiacum Officinale) is the National Flower of Jamaica. The short, compact tree is native to continental tropical American and the West Indies. In Jamaica, it grows best in the dry woodland along the north and south coasts of the island.
The plant is extremely ornamental, producing an attractive purple flower and orange-yellow fruit, while its crown has an attractive rounded shape. The tree is one of the most useful in the world.
Its name, when translated from Latin, means “wood of life” – probably adopted because of its medicinal qualities.
