202 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



spermum Senegalense, Ximenia Americana, Anona Senegalensis, 

 Pseudrocedrela Kotschyi, Strychnos spinosa and other spp., Bridelia 

 ferruginea, Hymenocardia acida, Gymnosporia Senegalensis. Occa- 

 sional larger trees will often be species of Terminalia, Prosopis ohlonga, 

 Butyrospermum Parkii, Lophira alata, Vitex Cienkotvskii, Sterculia 

 tomentosa, Pterocarpus erinaceus, or even Afzelia Africans and 

 Paradaniellia Oliver i. 



In the above association remark must be made of the Taura, 

 Detarium Senegalense, which is here rarely of dimensions meriting the 

 designation of tree, and therefore very different from the large timber 

 known in the southern forests and found also on the forested slopes 

 of Patti at Lokoja ; of the Makarfo, a tree of twisted habit, not often 

 over 30 feet high, with flaking bark, apparently much inferior to the 

 Afrormosia laxiflora, if it is this species, in the greater mixed deciduous 

 forests farther south ; and of the Tsada, Ximenia Americana, which 

 is here unarmed, has rather thin, glabrous leaves, sometimes almost 

 shining, and thus differs in habit from the coastal variety, if the identity 

 is certain, which is spiny, has dull leaves sometimes half-succulent, 

 and is appropriately called by the French " Citron de la mer." 



3. Park Savannah. 



The open park-like formation is another which is typical of this 

 region. It is, perhaps, best seen where the population is not quite 

 sparse, as in the latter case the previous type tends to take posses- 

 sion. The Shea Butter Tree is the one which more than any other 

 gives the tone to this type, but Parkia filicoidea and, especially in the 

 North, the Tamarind are perhaps equally representative. The two 

 first-named, though not necessarily indicating the proximity of a village, 

 have probably in most cases owners, and the intervening spaces 

 may or may not be more or less cultivated. Open park-like country 

 may, however, occur apart from any contemporary interference by 

 man, and wide stretches of it appear alternating with scattered orchard 

 bush or with open grass -land. The grasses are of the previously 

 mentioned types, with many species of Eragrostis, Aristida, small 

 annual tufted grasses and sedges, along with Cassia mimosoides, Olden- 

 landia grandiflora, 0. Senegalensis and other Leguminous and Rubiaceous 

 weeds. Other trees which well maintain the park-like appearance 

 are Terminalia macroplera, occasional species of Ficus, Vitex Cien- 

 koivskii, Acacia Arabica and A. Sieberiana. 



In flat, wide-stretching meadows which are often marshy in the 

 rains, this formation also maintains its character, single trees or 

 island-like clusters of tree and shrub dotting the expanse of heavy 

 grass which is burnt to desolation by the yearly fires. These islets 

 are generally found to be composed of Giyaiya, Mitragyne Africana, 

 with shrubs such as Feretia canthioides, Sarcocephalus Russegeri, and 



