The botanical name Haematoxylum means bloodwood, referring to the dark red heartwood. The trees common name Campeche got its name from the coastal city of Campeche on the Yucatan Peninsula, an important source of the valuable heartwood. The Campeche also grows abundantly in areas of Puerto Rico and is a fast growing ornamental tree. The foliage consist of several pairs of reverse heart-shaped leaflets. The leaves can vary color and in size from 0.4 inches to 4 inches. Yellow, fragrant flowers appear throughout the year. The trunk and branches are thorned and the wood is heavy, hard, and dense. In Mexico, the wood is used for herbal medicines as a natural remedy to treat anemia, tuberculosis, and intestinal parasites.