248 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



It is a medium-sized tree up to 4 feet in girth, with medium 

 sized, thin leaves and white-coloured twigs. The stem is 

 slightly scaly and yellowish-green in colour, especially in the 

 upper parts. A very common tree in the deciduous forest. 

 With its yellowish-green bark in the upper part of the bole 

 it is very similar to Opele, Schrebera Golungensis, and can often 

 be mistaken for it. The trunk, however, is not slightly pitted, 

 as is the case with Schrebera. On the whole, this tree is shorter, 

 reaching a height of about 40 feet. The root buttresses are 

 much slighter than in the case of C. solenostigma, though 

 they are of a similar shape, being very thin and merging 

 gradually into the trunk to a height of about 5 feet from the 

 ground. 



Timber is white and fairly hard, but not durable. It 

 hardens somewhat on exposure to the air. The texture of 

 the grain is fine, but occasionally cross-grained. It planes 

 moderately well, and takes nails moderately well also, more 

 so than C. solenostigma. It saws easily and splits well. 



As a firewood it burns steadily and slowly, giving out great 

 heat. It does not crackle nor cause sparks. 



It is a moderately fast growing, at first shade-bearing, 

 and subsequently a light-demanding tree. During most of its 

 life it is a soil-protecting and soil-improving tree. Natural 

 regeneration is good. It sprouts a little from the stump, 

 but not strong enough for purposes of reproduction. 



The timber has not been exported, nor has it been sawn 

 up for planks for local use. Being smaller than C. soleno- 

 stigma, after trial it may not be found so useful, but it could 

 be used for similar purposes. 



Native Use. — Firewood of the best kind, and occasionally 

 used as side house-posts. 

 Trema Africana. African Elm. Ehunogo, Ehrunbogo (Benin) ; 

 Affi (Ibadan and Oyo) ; Afoforo (Egba) ; Offun (Lagos). 



It is found in the Abeokuta, Ibadan and Benin provinces 

 of Nigeria, in the mixed deciduous forests, where it is moder- 

 ately prevalent. 



It is a medium-sized tree with nettle-like leaves, which wither 

 rapidly. It has a very thin, smooth bark. The fruit is small, 

 thin and long, and is eaten by pigeons. It grows up where 

 old trees fall in the forest, and is also a common tree in old 

 farms. Medium-sized specimens are in general appearance, 

 from a little distance, very similar to Iroko, and it can be mis- 

 taken for this tree. The crown, however, is narrower, and the 

 foliage is somewhat thicker, and the leaves and branches are 

 placed rather closer together than those of Iroko. The bark 



