191 



The following species should also be exploited, as they have 

 been favourably reported on by timber brokers at home. 



(5.) The " Okwen " of the Benis, or Bicinodmdron afrlcanus, 

 Muell. Arg., belongs to the natural order Euphorbiaceae. The 

 timber has been described as that of a " species of mahogany " 

 and declared to be suitable for the European market. It is very 

 common in the evergreen forests of this country, but does hot 

 reach such large dimensions as some of the Khayas and Kntan- 



ranmas 



(6.) The " Ainyesan," a yellow satinwood that has fetched as 

 much as 6^. per superficial foot at Liverpool. The timber how- 

 ever is of uncertain quality and only picked pieces have realized 

 that price. It is fairly plentiful in the Benin districts. 



(7.) The •* Ugo " of the Benis, " Atalla " of the Jekris, another 

 unidentified species, is a good deal heavier than the Benin Wood. 

 The seeds, when over-ripe, have the scent of phosphorus, but are 

 not luminous. The timber is hard and close grained, of the usual 

 red mahogany colour. It is found in the Warri and Sapeli 

 districts chiefly, but also near Ukumo in the Benin City district, 

 growing on a damp to wet soil. This tree attains a large size, up 

 to 16 ft. girth, and is moderately straight. It has been reported 

 on as a mahogany of mild texture and fairly good colour, and 

 valued at M. to 6d. per superficial foot, 



(<S.) The '-Nikiba,'' of the Benis, described as "a species of 

 gummy mahogany," valued at from 2y. to 3K per superficial 

 foot. The botanical name is not yet known. 



(9.) The " Aganokwi"(?), Mimusops nruMnervis, Baker, is a 

 tree yielding a good rich coloured hardwood resembling mahogany : 

 it is frequently figured, and should command a ready sale in Europe. 

 It is known as " Bakum Mahogany," and is very widely distri- 

 buted throughout the Central Province, but is of smaller growth 

 than in the Benin City district, where it attains a height of 120 ft. 

 and 40 ft. girth. It grows on high as well as on low land, but the 

 development of the tree near the swamps of the Niger is very 

 poor, and the trees do not attain a large si xe . Value 2\d. to W. 

 per foot. 



The species is very plentiful in some of the moist evergreen 

 forests of the Protectorate and has a tendency to grow gregariously. 

 It has been exported home under the general trade name of 

 mahogany. 



^ (10.) The u Arachi ", Afzelia africana, Stn. 9 is another tree which 

 yields an excellent hard wood. It is quite plentiful in parts of 

 the Onitsha district and again in the mixed forests of the Western 

 Province. It is largely used in the Central Province for furniture 

 and building purposes. 



(11.) The * Eba," or red iron- wood tree. This appears to 

 be a species of Lophira, and unlike its congener Lophira alata, 

 Banks, of the dry open forests, is confined to the fresh water 

 swamps of the moist zone, where it is plentiful, more espe- 

 cially in parts of the Benin City district. The wood is very hard, 



