Lignum vitae is well-known as the construction material of water-lubricated bearings due to its excellent tribological performance. Except for the included component, the effect of vessel structure on tribological performance is lack of analysis. In this study, a novel bionic polymer was manufactured based on the arrangement, size and density of Lignum vitae’s vessel. The results of experimental tests showed that the friction coefficient was down 43% and the wear volume is down nearly 38.3% at harsh condition. The tribological performance of Lignum vitae was concluded positively correlates to the size and density of the vessel. The findings reveal a more direct relation between internal structure and tribological properties of Lignum vitae and mechanisms for excellence in water-lubricated conditions.