Guaiacum uses, including as lumber, for medicinal purposes, and as ornamentals. The trade of all species of "Guaiacum" is controlled under CITES Appendix II. "Guaiacum officinale" is the national flower of Jamaica, while "Guaiacum sanctum" is the national tree of the Bahamas. The genus is famous as the supplier of lignum vitae, which is the heartwood of several species in the genus. It is the fourth-hardest variety of wood as measured by the Janka hardness test, requiring a force of to embed a steel ball in diameter half that distance into the wood. The Spanish encountered guaiacum wood when they conquered
Les Janka in international affairs and the formulation of U.S. foreign and defense policy. A graduate of the University of Redlands, Janka received a master's degree in International Relations and Middle East Studies from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. Janka worked for the United States Information Agency from 1964 to 1968 and was Assistant Dean of the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University from 1968 to 1971, when he was appointed Special Assistant to Henry Kissinger on the National Security Council at the White House. Janka became Senior National Security Council Staff Member for