Haematoxylum campechianum L.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC.

Vernacular

Brazilete, Brazilito, Bwa kanpéch, Palo de brazil

Leguminosae, J. B. Gillett, R. M. Polhill & B. Verdcourt. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1971

Morphology General Habit

A smallish tree.

Morphology Leaves

With closely veined obovate-emarginate or subtruncate leaflets (sometimes the lowest pair replaced by a pair of 1–2-jugate pinnae).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers rather small, yellow, in axillary racemes.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods rather small, flattened and elliptic-oblong, opening down the middle of the valves.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/62026169/174152099

Conservation

LC - least concern

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Vernacular

LOGWOOD

Morphology General Habit

A shrub or small tree with deeply fluted trunk, usually less than 8 m tall, often armed with stout spines; pinnae cuneate-obovate, 0.7–2.5 cm long, rounded, truncate, or emarginate at the apex, finely many-nerved; stipules sometimes spine-like

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Racemes mostly dense, 2–8 cm long; calyx 3–4 mm long; petals 5–6 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Pods oblanceolate or narrowly oblong-elliptic, 3–5 cm long, 1–3-seeded.

Distribution

Grand Cayman. Native to C. America, chiefly in the Yucatan Peninsula; widely naturalised in the West Indies, where it was introduced early in the 18th century.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

Use Environmental

Environmental uses.

Use Fuel

Used for fuels.

Use Food

Used for food.

Use Invertebrate Food

Used as invertebrate food.

Use Materials

Used as material.

Use Medicines

Medical uses.

Use

The heartwood, which is bright red when freshly cut, is the source of a dye formerly much used for textiles, and which is still highly valued as a bacteriological and cytological stain. It is extracted by boiling the wood chips in water, and must be used with a chemical ‘mordant’ in order to be permanent. The usual final dye-colour obtained is black. The wood itself is very hard and heavy, and normally will not float; although brittle, it is very durable and takes a high polish.