Belizes' "Blood Tree:" The Logwood

The Logwood Tree is tall, though it does not exceed 40 feet in height, is native to and can be found in southern Mexico and southward, throughout much of Central America.

The dark, deep and rich maroon red sap of the Logwood literally oozes in great abundance from the tree if the tree is ever wounded. Thus the reason the Logwoods have been given the English nickname 'Blood Trees.' This oozing of its' blood-colored sap will heal a tree wound just as blood does for a human being. In turn, the nick name, Blood Tree explains the Logwoods' scientific name 'Haematoxylum' which is a Greek word meaning 'Blood Wood.'

The Logwood is one of the two trees that are recognized as having helped build Belize's colonial economic backbone. The dark deep rich maroon dye from the Logwood was highly sought after in Europe as a dye for the textile industry in Europe. This Logwood dye demand made Belize an important colony to the British.

The dye from the Logwood is not only used in the textile industry today but it can also be used in other things such as a natural hair dying ingredient.

The Logwood is even thought to have medicinal properties as well. Tea made from the Logwood Tree contains triple anti-oxidants and is currently being tested in the United States as a possible cure for certain types of cancer.

The dye-rich resinous wood of the Logwood also makes it a great hardwood for building. Logwood has proven to resist almost all, if not all, types of microbial rot as well as attacks upon it by insects and even chewing rodents.

However, the Logwood is not just known for its' crucial and historical role it played in the development of the now modern-day country of Belize; it has unique and interesting characteristic as well. One characteristic of the Logwood is that it is actually a flowering tree. Logwoods will produce some very stunningly beautiful flowers.

Flowers from the Logwood are abundant and sweet. Bees will, in large part, pollinate the flowers closest to their hives thus the bees that happen to live around a Logwood Tree are known to produce an outstandingly delicious honey.

The leaves of a Logwood are also interesting and unique. A Logwood leaf looks almost like a delicate piece of lace, each growing in the shape of a little heart. Every two rows of a Logwood leaf has a pointy end that is attached to a flexible middle rib. It is an awesome experience to be standing on the ground, under a Logwood Tree and look up into the entire Logwood Tree canopy and all one can see above are massive little delicate heart-shaped flowers.

If you ever visit Belize be sure and seek out a Logwood Tree, stand under it and look up. Be sure and have your camera handy and be prepared to capture a memory of a lifetime.