Meaning
The national flower of Jamaica — a small tree (Guaiacum officinale) bearing delicate pale-blue blossoms and one of the hardest, densest woods in the world. Its name means 'wood of life', and every part has traditionally been valued for medicine, timber, and craft.
Examples
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Di lignum vitae bloom wid likkle blue flowa.
The lignum vitae blooms with little blue flowers.
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Dem carve di walking stick outta lignum vitae, it hard fi true.
They carve the walking stick out of lignum vitae, it's genuinely hard.
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Lignum vitae a Jamaica national flowa.
Lignum vitae is Jamaica's national flower.
Origin
Latin for 'wood of life', named by Europeans for the tree's many reputed medicinal virtues; its blue bloom was declared Jamaica's national flower.
How it’s used
A national symbol (the national flower); its wood is famous for extreme hardness.