996 cxvii. MORACE^. [JIiLsmiga 



African, p. 42, c. fig. p. 43 and t. 18 (1898) ; non Benth. in Hook. 

 Niger F]. p. 519 (1849). 



Island of St. Thomas. — A very elegant tree, 12 to 15 ft. high, 

 branched a little above the base, with a broad head and good wood 

 suitable for house-building ; leaves digitate ; leaflets 6, 1 to 1^ ft. long ; 

 common petiole more than 7 in. long. In the more elevated forests 

 of the island, on Monte Gaffe', 1000 to 2800 ft. alt. ; some leaves contri- 

 buted by Senhor Carvalho ; without fl. or fr. Dec. 1860. In habit like 

 Myrkmthus arhorens P. Beauv., but the leaflets are quite entire instead 

 of strongly serrate. Xative name " Gofe." No. 2592. 



According to Tedlie, I.e., the hairy sheath or stipule of this large 

 palmate-leaved tree resembles a skin, is boiled in soup, and used as a 

 powerful emmenagogue ; in Ashantee it is called "Oeduema." 



J/. Smithii Benth. in Niger Fl., I.e., is Macara)tgaheterophyllaM.UQ\\. 

 arg., ante, p. 981 ; the type of J/. Smithii, which was collected by 

 Christian Smith on the Lower Congo, and also that of M. cecrojnoides, 

 are in the National Herbarium. 



4. FICUS Tournef., L. ; Benth. & Hook. f. Gen. PI. iii. p. 367. 



Some species of figs are especially rich in a thick glutinous 

 milk, which is used by the negroes in the preparation of a bird- 

 lime, called Molemba ordinaria ; other species, such as F. Quiheha, 

 supply a toush and firm wood, useful for the manufacture of 

 domestic articles ; and some, such as F. trichophylla and F. 

 psilopoga, belong to the most stately trees of western tropical 

 Africa, both on account of their large-leaved and widely extended 

 heads with brick-red branches, as well as for the abundance of 

 their peach-coloured figs, with which they are laden twice a year, 

 and which are tolerably juicy, somewhat sweet and used by several 

 colonists for the extraction of a very excellent spirit tasting like a 

 superior gin. Welwitsch considered that enterprising men with 

 the necessary knowledge and a moderate amount of capital might, 

 in consequence of the great fruitfulness and frequent occurrence 

 of the trees, make this a profitable branch of industry. Other fig 

 trees again have aerial roots, which are coloured red during the 

 rainy season, and which hang down from the branches to the 

 extent often of 10 to 12 ft. and produce an exceedingly strange 

 appearance enhanced considerably by the presence of their in- 

 numerable cherry-like figs. 



Many other species grow as parasites, either rising clear from 

 the branches of some other tree, or, embracing the tree with its 

 stem pressed fiat like a covering, sooner or later kills it, and then 

 the fig tree, previously often only a half open tube, closes at the 

 top and starts with an entire stem its independent existence. 



The leaves of F. exasjjerata Vahl, are used for polishing purposes. 



1. F. pseudo-elastica Welw. ms. in herb., sp. n. 



A tree, 20 to 25 ft. higher and more, producing an elastic gum ; 

 head very broad ; branches rambling, patent ; branchlets smooth, 

 glabrescent, towards the apex puberulous, rather thick, leafy; 

 leaves alternate, entire or somewhat sinuous-repand, ovate-oblong, 

 obtusely and shortly cuspidate at the apex, rounded or subcordate 



