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''Guaiacum officinale'' is the [[Floral emblem|national flower]] of [[Jamaica]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jis.gov.jm/special_sections/Independence/symbols.html |title=National Symbols |work=Emancipation & Independence |publisher=Jamaica Information Service |accessdate=2009-01-27}}</ref>
Guaiac, a natural resin extracted from the wood of the ''Guaiacum officinale'', is a colorless compound that turns blue when placed in contact with substances that have peroxidase activity and then are exposed to hydrogen peroxide. "Guaiac cards" are impregnated with the resin and are used in determining if stool contains blood. The heme portion of hemoglobin contains peroxidase and will catalyze the oxidation of guaiaconic acid when hydrogen peroxide is placed on the "Guaiac card" if blood is present in the stool.<ref>
==References==
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