46 
(Ibo). In the Central Province it is known as Ogedudin, Ogiedi 
(Beni), and it is the Ope-Ifa of the Yorubas. In Dahomey where 
it is known as “ Palmier fétiche” it bears the native names Fadé or 
Agoudé and in Togoland it is known as Agadé, Agodé and Klude. 
by M. J. Adam. The trunk of the tree also seems to present 
a different appearance from that of the common variety. 
The fruit and nuts of Efia Ekpo Eyop and Ogiedi or Ope- 
Ifa are figured (Figs. 8-11). In the former specimens the shells of 
the “ nuts ” are about 4°5 mm. in thickness, and in the latter from 
4-5 mm. in thickness. In this respect they are very similar to the 
“nuts ” of Welwitsch’s var. macrosperma, from Angola, which bears 
the native name of Dihdhé. From his description, however, it 
seems that this form is probably a variety of the typical Oil Palm, 
and does not represent the King palm. 
The Ope-Ifa, according to the report by the Conservator of 
Forests, Southern Nigeria, is distinguished by haying “4 or more 
‘eyes’. . . . instead of the three ordinarily found in the typical 
species,” Unfortunately, owing to the lack of material, it is not 
possible to estimate the value of this character. In the few nuts 
of the Ope-Ifa, sent from Benin city, the four pores in the 
endocarp are well seen (Fig. 11), but, on the other hand, specimens 
of Abe-tuntum, from the Gold Coast, have also been observed with 
four pores, and, Judging from what obtains in other palms, the 
number of pores in — endocarp appears to be a character of very 
? 
(3.) The thin-shelled variety of the Oil Palm hac 
well known in the Gold C. e alm has proved to be 
Lisombe, Isombe ( Cameroons) Asog: 
Arunfo ( 
) Abobo-be (Gold Coast) (Fi 
: € gs. 1-3), 
a ~ a Votehi from Dahomey, in which the shell is reduced to 
Thon pres, may possibly be the same as the Digumbé of A 
and both these forms are probably variants of the thin-shelled nibiely. 
