[7] The common English name is a direct translation of the Spanish "palo santo" (not to be confused with Bursera graveolens).

Francisco López de Gómara as well as Oviedo make reference to the specific species as such in their respective histories of the New World.

It earned its name during the time of the Spanish conquest of the New World for its use treating syphilis, whose effects recalled the "evil" of the Black Death.

[11] The flowers have both male and female parts (stamens and pistils) and yield yellow pods containing black seeds encapsulated separately in a red skin.

[12] This tree is one of two species that yield the valuable lignum vitae wood, the other being Guaiacum officinale.

The naturalist William Turner noted in 1568 that the plant was already being grown in India, Tamraparni (ancient Sri Lanka), Java and the Tivu islets of the ocean, and whose broth cured several harsh diseases, including French pox (syphilis).

[4] The type of rainforest (tropical-deciduous and dry forests) that holywood is found in are the most threatened ecosystems in the world.

[3] This has caused habitat fragmentation for the species, which reduces the chances of lowering its risk status.