THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 251 



It is a soil-protecting and soil-improving tree, and stands a 

 good deal of shade. The tree has not been cut for local use, 

 nor has it been tried as a timber for export. 

 Ficus sp. Common Fig. Obobo (Yoruba) ; Ohau (Benin). 



It is a common tree of the Calabar, Ogoja, Owerri, Warri, 

 Benin, Ondo, Ibadan and Abeokuta provinces of Nigeria. 

 One of the most typical features of this tree is its free growth, 

 open crown, and green, yellow and orange-coloured bark from 

 the base upwards. It is a medium-sized tree, attaining a girth 

 of 10 feet. The small red-coloured figs attract pigeons espe- 

 cially, as well as other birds, to the trees in the fruiting season. 

 The leaf is small for a Ficus and oval in shape. The wood 

 is white and soft. The white latex which exudes from the trunk 

 when cut distinguishes this tree from the satin wood, Afrormosia 

 laxiflora, with which it might be confused owing to the similar 

 shades of green, yellow and orange-colour of the bark. It 

 is chiefly found in the secondary forest, also near villages in 

 the evergreen forest zone. Owing to the parrots and pigeons 

 carrying the seed, reproduction from this source, both in 

 epiphytic and tree form, is very good, but it is most usually 

 found growing alone in an open place, without any support 

 from other trees. It is very fast growing and impatient of 

 shade. 



The wood has not been used locally nor for export, nor 

 does the native apparently have any use for it, as it soon rots 

 when cut down. 



The native occasionally eats the ripe fruit. 



Ficus exasperata. Emido, Oboba (Yoruba). 



This tree is found in the Abeokuta province. 



Ficus Thonningii. Opoto (Yoruba). 



This is one of the smaller fig-trees of the mixed deciduous 

 zone. As with the others, it is not used as a timber tree, but 

 occasionally for fences. 



Ficus triangularis. Abadan (Yoruba) ; Obadan-nikwi (Benin). 



It is a common tree in the Benin, Ibadan and Abeokuta 

 provinces of Nigeria. It is chiefly found in the mixed de- 

 ciduous forests. It is of no use as a timber tree, but is used 

 occasionally for fences by the natives. 



Ficus Vogelii. Lagos, Abba or Abbo Rubber. Abadon (Yoruba) ; 

 Obadan (Benin). 



It is the common tree of the Calabar, Ogoja, Onitsha, Benin, 

 Ondo and Abeokuta provinces of Nigeria. This is the most 

 common fig-tree, and is usually found along the sides of roads 

 in the native villages. The very large, shiny leaf (not quite 

 as glossy as Ficus Indica) is one of the most typical features 



