Logwood

Logwood, the wood of Hcentatoxylon campeclnmum, a leguminous tree with paripinnate leaves and racemes of yellow flowers, native to Yucatan and some other parts of Central America. The tree reaches 40 feet in height; but the deep red heart-wood, which is very hard and heavy, occurs in commerce in logs 3 feet long. These are cut into chips and ground, furnishing one of the best deep red and black dyes, owing to the presence of hcematoxylin. It is used by calico-printers and cloth-dyers; by hatters for black hats; and in some inks. The tree is naturalised in Jamaica, whence 115,000 tons are exported annually. Our imports amount to 50,000 to 70,000 tons.