THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 243 



Life or King Palm. Eviromilla (Benin). This is the meaning 

 according to the Benin name. 



It is found in the Colony of Lagos, and Abeokuta and Benin 

 provinces of Nigeria. On the whole, it is an uncommon tree, 

 but there is no doubt of its being an indigenous tree to this 

 part of Africa. The leaves are long and very compressed, 

 being set at an acute angle to the leaf stalk and of smaller 

 size than in any other species. It gives the palm almost the 

 appearance of a Cycad. It also looks as if the leaves had closed 

 up with the cold or were not fully developed. The leaves also 

 are of a much darker green (almost olive-green) than the ordinary 

 palm. Amongst the Benis it is considered the Sacred Oil Palm 

 Tree, the nut obtained from it being especially revered. From 

 the Resident's office is seen one of these trees which was 

 planted in the Benin City Arboretum some nine years ago. It is 

 a very slow-growing palm, having scarcely one quarter of the 

 rate of growth of the ordinary oil palm. The stem is much 

 thinner in proportion to the height than the ordinary oil palm ; 

 and it does not attain more than half the height of an oil palm. 

 When growing in a group, it gives quite a funereal appearance. 



The nuts are used by the natives as "Ju-ju" of divination 

 to see into the future. It is said that " the nuts talk," in the 

 Benin country, where the tree is held to be that of everlasting 

 life. 

 Elcesis sp. Ope trumfo (Yoruba). 



Abeokuta province, Yoruba country. 

 ElcBsis sp. Small Oil Palm. Ope Ifu No. I (Yoruba) ; Ogiedi 

 (Benin). 



Abeokuta province, Yoruba country. 

 Elcesis Guineensis, var. Lisombe. Palm, or Lisombe Palm, or 

 Soft-shelled Palm. Ogeddin (Benin). 



The main difference of this species is in the small oblong, 

 pointed fruit on a much smaller drupe, and the larger quantity 

 of oil obtained from the pericarp and the very small kernel 

 in the nut. It is also much softer to crack. The foliage looks 

 a fresher green than the ordinary variety ; also the leaflets 

 are placed at an acuter angle to the leaf stalk than the other. 



It is not very prevalent in the Benin, Abeokuta, Calabar 

 and Ogoja provinces of Nigeria. 



Silviculture. — The nuts, when sown, do not germinate true 

 to species, except for a few per cent. It is planted in the Indem 

 country of the Ogoja province. 



Native Use. — The oil is collected in a similar way to the 

 other, but is liked more by the natives of Benin. The kernels 

 are used for making oil as well. 



