136 
Albizzia, which are nearly as common in the province as the acacia, 
may at times be mixed with samples of the better varieties, 
“ Mumuye ” gum on the other hand is derived from one or more 
species of Combretum, the usual source being a tree called in Hausa 
* wiyan-demmu” or “ chiriri.” e “taramnia” or “taraunia” 
(Fufulde “ buski”), Combretum verticillatum, and peobay other | 
species of Combretum, e.g., the tree known as “ zindi”’ (? Hausa or 
Kanuri name), also supply this variety. Another of the Combretaceae, 
Anogeissus letocarpa (Hausa, “marike,” Fufulde, “kojoli”), a tree 
with light graceful foliage and balls of pale flowers, yields a gum some 
of which is probably sent as “ Mumuye,” an e well-known 
Sterculia tomentosa (Hausa, “ kukuki,” Fufulde, “bobori’’), yielding a 
sort of gum tragacanth, may also in some cases be similarly classed. 
The various species of the Combretaceae mentioned are all par- 
ticularly abundant throughout Yola Province, and gum classed as 
“ Mumuye ” is obtained quite as much from Kombo and Shillem on 
wv river Gongola and elsewhere as from districts south of the 
enue 
um finds its application in many simple ways in native arts, 6.9. 
“finishing” dyed cloth, preparation of Mallam’s ink, compounding 
of sweatmeats and other market comestibles, &c. 
Two other species yield gum which so far as I am aware is not 
collected by the natives in this Province. One of these is the 
peculiar tree called “Takanda giwa” (Elephant’s sugar-cane), 
Cussonia nigerica, the leaves of which drop off during the dry 
season, giving the bare branches, with their somewhat umbellate 
arrangement, the suggestive appearance expressed by its other 
designation of “ Hanun Kuturu” or “ Leper’s hand.” This exudes 
at wounded points a very clear colourless gum which hangs in 
slender pencils and appears to have some slightly irritant quality, 
as the tongue tingles a little when it is sucked. : 
This plant proves to be a new species the diagnosis of which is as 
follows :— 
Cussonia (Hucussonia) nigerica, Hutchinson, sp. nov. ; affinis 
C. Kirhii, Seem. et C. djalonensi, A. Chev., ab illa foliis repando- 
dentatis et bracteis reflexis glabris, ab hac inflorescentiis elongatis 
simplicibus bracteis acuminatis glabris differt. 
Arbor cortice corrugato, ramis subumbellatis dispositis (fide 
Dalziel), Folia ad apices ramorum conferta, longe petiolata, 
digitatim 6—foliolata 3 petioli 10-30 cm. longi, graciles, subtiliter sul- 
cati, glabri; foliola sessilia, oblanceolata vel elliptico-lanceolata, ad 
* Meaning “neck of demmu,” the latter being Varamus exanthematicus, % 
large species of lizard, from the characteristic fissuring of the bark. 
