Talk:Lignum vitae

Palo santo

I have a question. According to my sources, the palo santo tree is Bursera graveolens (Burseraceae family). However, "palo santo" is redirected here, and based on what little I know about palo santo, it sounds like it's the same tree. But the palo santo I'm talking about inhabits the Gran Chaco and is related to the frankincense tree. Is there a mistake somewhere, or is "palo santo" the common name for two unrelated species? Thanks for your help. --Pablo D. Flores 21:41, 21 August 2005 (UTC)

Well, that's the problem with common names - I'm not at all surprised that there are more than one "palo santo". If you are happy with your sources, you should turn Palo santo into a disambiguation page. Guettarda 22:05, 21 August 2005 (UTC)The best flower there is!

Merlin's staff

I am puzzled:

• Lignum vitae reads: According to T.H. White's Version of the Artus Saga "The once and future king" Lignum vitae has special magical powers as the staff of Merlin is made from it.
• Guaiacum reads: Guaiacum is a genus in the family Zygophyllaceae. The six species are shrubs and trees, native to subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas.
• Merlin reads: ... A Scottish example of the legend of Merlin comes from 577 ...

How did Merlin get a piece of wood, heavier than water, from a continent that was not discovered by Europeans at the time? - Quistnix 23:05, 9 March 2006 (UTC)

Magic. Guettarda 02:01, 10 March 2006 (UTC)

That's the most likely explanation ;-) However, he could have got it from Brendan - Quistnix 09:41, 10 March 2006 (UTC)

Redirect from "Lignum vitæ"?

Should there be a redirection to this article from "Lignum vitæ"? Same question, generally speaking, for all Latin phrases and titles bearing the "-ae" ending on a word.

Well, since nothing links to Lignum vitæ I don't think it's highly imperative. It all depends on how likely it is that someone might type Lignum vitæ instead of Lignum vitae. Redirects are cheap, so there's no real reason not to - it all depends on whether you think it likely ot be used. Guettarda 20:07, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

I had just typed that :-) OK, I just created that other article. Sbi 20:29, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

Ironwood

Why "of course, ironwood"? I've never heard it called that. Totnesmartin 10:55, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

Ironwood is a name typically thrown around for any type of wood that sinks in water. I have heard it called ironwood, and I've actually been sold African Ironwood as Lignum. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Moeburn (talk • contribs) 23:18, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

Contraceptive Properties?

The contraceptive properties of the bark tea are mentioned as fact in the 'lore' section, but this curious property is not mentioned elsewhere? Can anyone fill the gaps? The Yowser (talk) 12:17, 14 November 2011 (UTC)

Hardness

The hardness for some of the woods listed on this page is not even remotely the same as the hardness as listed in the chart on the Janka Scale of Hardness page.