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Nomenclature. Family: ZYGOPHYLLACEAE. Other trade relevant species: Gonopterodendron arboreum (Jacq.) Godoy-Bürki (syn. Bulnesia arborea (Jacq.) Engl.). The wood of this species, commonly traded as "vera", is difficult to distinguish from G. sarmientoi as regards colour, weight and macro structure. However, it is available in larger quantities and more common in the market. Synonym(s): Bulnesia sarmientoi Lorentz ex Griseb. Further trade and local names: ibiocaí (AR); Paraguay lignum-vitae (trade). Code according to DIN EN 13556: none.
CITES(EU) status of protection. Listed in Annex II(B).
Similar timbers. Easily mistaken for Gonopterodendron arboreum, similar to Guaiacum spp.. (CITES II), Chlorocardium rodiei, Handroanthus spp.
Geographic distribution. Tropical South America. Chaco region in N-Argentina, Paraguay and S-Bolivia.
Growth rings, colour, grain, etc. Growth ring boundaries distinct (indicated by more and larger vessels in earlywood), or indistinct or absent. Heartwood basically brown, black, green (varying from light olive green to chocolate brown; often turning dark olive green upon exposure); with streaks (blackish green, rarely conspicuous), or without streaks. Sapwood distinct from heartwood colour (yellowish). Odour indistinct or absent. Wood heavy and hard (0.92–1.10 g/cm³). Surface oily. Interlocked grain present (very pronounced).
Hardwood vs softwood. Vessels (pores) present (= hardwood).
Vessels (pores). Wood diffuse-porous. Vessels (pores) arranged in a radial pattern, or a diagonal pattern; in multiples; commonly in radial rows of 4 or more and in clusters. Vessels small, or medium (45–60–100 µm); moderately numerous to very numerous (35–115). Tyloses absent. Other deposits in heartwood vessels (pores) present (dark brown to almost black).
Axial parenchyma. Axial parenchyma not visible.
Rays. Rays narrow. Large rays commonly less than 1 mm high.
Storied structure. Storied structure present. Tiers regular (horizontal or slightly inclined); 8–12 per axial millimetre.
Physical and chemical tests. Heartwood not fluorescent. Water extract not fluorescent; colour shade of water extract colourless to brown, or yellow. Ethanol extract fluorescent (light blue to purple); colour shade of ethanol extract yellow. Splinter burns to full ash; colour of ash bright white. As regards these physical-chemical properties, Gonopterodendron sarmientoi yields results identical to those obtained for G. arboreum; even based on this set of properties, the two species cannot be differentiated.
Additional information. • Transverse section + wood surface. Transverse section ca. 10x. Gonopterodendron sarmientoi (Palo santo). Tangential surface, natural size. For comparison with Gonopterodendron arboreum (not protected) see the following image. • Transverse section + wood surface. Gonopterodendron arboreum (Vera). Transverse section ca. 10x. Radial surface, natural size. • Comparison Gonopterodendron sarmientoi vs Chlorocardium rodiei. Gonopterodendron sarmientoi (Palo santo). Chlorocardium rodiei (Greenheart). Despite the similar external appearance the timbers of Gonopterodendron sarmientoi and Chlorocardium rodiei can be easily distinguished. As opposed to Chlorocardium rodiei the vessels of Gonopterodendron sarmientoi are much smaller and almost exclusively arranged in radial to diagonal groups; the wood rays of Chlorocardium rodiei are not storied. • Comparison Gonopterodendron sarmientoi vs Guaiacum spp.. Gonopterodendron sarmientoi (Palo santo). Guaiacum spp. (Pockholz, Lignum vitae). Gonopterodendron spp. and Guaiacum spp. are externally (colour, weight) very similar. However, Gonopterodendron spp. has smaller and much more numerous vessels grouped in radial to diagonal multiples and clusters. Moreover, Gonopterodendron spp. have a less oily wood surface. • Comparison Gonopterodendron sarmientoi vs Handroanthus spp.. Despite the similar external appearance the timbers of Gonopterodendron sarmientoi and Handroanthus spp. can be easily distinguished. The vessels of Gonopterodendron sarmientoi are much smaller, almost exclusively arranged in radial to diagonal groups and often filled with greenish black deposits; those of Handroanthus spp. are larger, often solitary and filled with yellow deposits. Gonopterodendron sarmientoi (Palo santo). Handroanthus spp. (Ipé, Lapacho).
The interactive key allows access to the character list, illustrations, full and partial descriptions, diagnostic descriptions, differences and similarities between taxa, lists of taxa exhibiting specified attributes, summaries of attributes within groups of taxa, and geographical distribution.
Cite this publication as: ‘Richter, H.G., Gembruch, K., and Koch, G. 2014 onwards. CITESwoodID: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval. In English, French, German, and Spanish. Version: 4th April 2023. www.delta-intkey.com’.
