THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 249 



is slightly fissured, and does not show lenticels like the Iroko, 

 especially not on the roots. In proportion to the size of the 

 tree, the root spurns are larger than in the case of Iroko. It 

 it usually found growing singly, whereas groups of Iroko are 

 often common, or anyhow several are found in one locality. 



The timber is white and of medium hardness, but very 

 durable indeed. It is termite proof. It planes well, but does 

 not split easily. It saws well and takes nails fairly easily. 



It is of fairly rapid growth, at first shade-bearing, and later 

 a somewhat light-demanding tree, with soil-protecting and 

 soil-improving qualities. Natural regeneration only appears 

 to be moderate. It sprouts from the stump. 



The timber has not been exported, not has it been sawn 

 up for local use. 



Native Use. — The timber is used amongst the Benis as 

 rafters and ceilings for house-building, as it is uncut or squared. 

 Trema affinis or T. Africana. African Elm. Afofero (Yoruba). 



Found in the Abeokuta province of Nigeria. 



Moracese. 



Antiaris toxiaria. False Oroko. Oro Aiyo, (Egba) (Yoruba) ; 

 Ogiovu (Benin). 



It is a common tree in the Calabar, Ogoja, Owerri, 

 Warri, Benin, Ondo, Ibadan and Abeokuta provinces of 

 Nigeria. 



It is a large tree, reaching a girth of 15 feet and a bole 

 length of 70 feet, of very cylindrical shape. There are large 

 surface roots, which stick up out of the ground on roadsides, 

 but form only low root spurns. The bark is grey, smooth 

 and almost shiny in the sun. The crown is heavier and less 

 open than Iroko, but otherwise in habit it is similar. The 

 leaves on the whole are smaller and the foliage generally is 

 of a lighter green than the Iroko, except when the latter puts 

 on new leaves in February or March. The fruit is a little 

 spherically shaped nut with a papery covering easily removed, 

 disclosing a round nut with small markings all round it. Two 

 kernels are found inside on cracking it. The slash is yellowish 

 white, and gradually a little thin white latex exudes. The 

 tree usually appears after a few years on abandoned farms. 

 The leaf is rough to the hand, almost as bad as Ficus asperata, 

 but there are no hairs on the under surface. On the whole 

 the branches are much flatter than Oroko, though the top 

 of the crown is round. The timber is soft and white all through. 

 Termites attack it. It is very light and might almost pass 

 as a substitute for cork. It has large and wide medullary 



