Lignum
vitae - Tree of Life
Lignum
Vitae Carvings:
Lignum vitae is a difficult but great medium
for carvings. In the Virgin Islands the pieces
used for carving are not harvested from healthy
trees, rather they are primarily found lying
in the woods where they were felled years
ago when the islands were deforested or more
recently by hurricanes.
About
the Lignum Vitae Tree:
The Lignum vitae tree may have multiple trunks
forming a large and low canopy. Its bark is
smooth in 
texture
and purple and green in color and the leaves
are a bright green. In the early summer small
blue flowers blossom which later will develop
into bright orange fruits.
About the Lignum Vitae Wood:
Incredibly durable. The wood of the Lignum Vitae
is the hardest, heaviest and densest in the
world. At the specific gravity between 1.28
and 1.37 it will sink in water. Because of
its extremely high resin content the wood
is self-lubricating, and will not dry out.
It resists rot caused by insects and moisture
so effectively that remains of Lignum vitae
wood used as posts for Taino dwellings over
800 years old have been discovered in the
islands.
Uses of the Lignum Vitae Wood:
Because it self lubricates ball bearings were
once made of it.
Because of its durability The Antarctic explorer
Ernest Shackleton's ship Endurance was ribbed
with it.
Because of i ts weight it is great for making
cricket balls
Because of its denseness police truncheons were
once made of it,
and to this day the judge's gavel is still traditionally
carved from it.
Lignum Vitae Historically
Prior to the deforestation of St John there
were many Lignum vitae on the island helping
to produce a jungle-like canopy over large
portions of the island, providing shade for
tropical undergrowth. When St John was deforested
during the European colonization most large
native trees were cut down to prepare for
sugarcane cultivation or were harvested for
their wood. As a result Lignum vitae is now
relatively rare.
Lignum
Vitae Today
Some mature lignum vitae trees can still be
seen near the Cruz Bay Post Office, on the
corner near the Texaco station, at Caneel
Bay by the sugar mill and along the Ram Head
Trail.
Lignum Vitae Tomorrow:
New Lignum vitae trees have been planted by
people such as Hermon Smith, Andy Rutnik and
the late Ivan Jadan.
