Guayacán Real (Guaiacum sanctum), known internationally as Lignum Vitae ("Wood of Life"), produces what may be the world's densest commercial wood—so heavy it sinks in water and so hard it's self-lubricating. These extraordinary properties led to centuries of overexploitation, and this slow-growing tree is now Endangered and protected under CITES Appendix II. With its stunning deep blue flowers and evergreen foliage, the Guayacán Real is both a botanical treasure and a cautionary tale about unsustainable resource extraction.

In Costa Rica, Guayacán Real populations have been: - Heavily logged historically - Restricted to dry forest (naturally limited) - Slow to recover (extremely slow growth) - Focus of conservation programs Seeing wild Guayacán Real in Costa Rica is increasingly rare, though restoration efforts are underway in protected areas.

Guayacán Real faces multiple threats: Historical Exploitation: - Harvested intensively since 1500s - European demand for ship bearings - Medicinal trade (syphilis treatment claims) - Woodworking (density = prestige) Biological Vulnerabilities: - Extremely slow growth (decades to maturity) - Limited habitat (dry forest specialist) - Low seed production - Poor regeneration Current Status: - IUCN: Endangered - CITES: Appendix II (regulated trade)

• Costa Rica: Protected species - Wild populations fragmented and depleted

Historical use only. Do not use for medical purposes. Some compounds are potentially harmful.

The story of Guayacán Real is a cautionary tale about unsustainable exploitation. For 500 years, humans have prized this tree for properties that took millions of years to evolve—density, hardness, and natural lubrication. But those same properties require centuries of slow growth, making sustainable harvest nearly impossible. Today, the remaining wild populations are shadows of their former abundance, protected by international law but still recovering from centuries of cutting. When you see a Guayacán Real in bloom—those impossibly blue flowers against dark green foliage—remember that you're looking at a living lesson about the consequences of taking more than nature can give. Some things cannot be rushed, and some treasures are best left standing.