Having had a shop in Caracas, VZ. for 17 years, it was not easy to find these two woods.
Lignum Vitae, Guayacum Officiale. What is interesting is the local name in Venezuela for lignum vitae is Guayacan, the indian name for the wood. Grows on the beaches of the Caribbean, used as gaskets for propellers of ships, as we know its an oily wood.
Sea water makes it even harder.
Not sold in lumber yards, go to a woodworker on the beach to find some.
Vera wood, Burnesia, used for Vigas (beams),and flooring.
Grows near the beach and arid areas. Beautiful yellow flowers.
The woods are very similar but the Vera wood has a straighter trunk, the picture from wikipedia is very tipical. The lignum vitae is more of a cork screw low growing tree. I made a table from a trunk which was 24" in diameter but only 20" high, with branches that are 10" in diameter. I still have the branches, they have an amazing figure. This particular tree was from the island of Margarita, which is off the east coast of Venezuela near Trinidad.
A Hurricane blew it over, they picked it up, and they do not know how long it was rolling in the surf.
