252 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



of this tree. In Benin it is usually deciduous for about thirty- 

 six hours, and the pinkish tips of the fresh leaves and the great 

 rapidity of their development are remarkable. The bark is 

 dark brown and rougher than the other species. In the Benin 

 Forestry Compound there is a large specimen. On the whole, 

 it is less common in the evergreen forest than near villages 

 or roads. In the forest it is most often found as an epiphyte 

 growing on oil palms, Sasswood, and oil-bean trees. The timber 

 is white and soft ; it has not been used for local purposes 

 nor for exports. The " Balata rubber " of the Upper Niger 

 district is obtained by roughly coagulating the latex of this 

 tree in the air, with or without reagents, such as the latex 

 of Bauhinia reticulata, or salt. The natives use the tree for 

 making fences by sticking in pieces of the stem of suitable 

 length, and in a similar manner it is used as a shade tree on 

 the sides of roads in the villages. This is more especially 

 the case in the villages in the dry zone, where other shade 

 trees are scarce. Pigeons and parrots spread the seed, and thus 

 its reproduction is assured. 

 Ficus platyphylla. Gambia Rubber. 



It is also found in the upper reaches of the Ogan River, in 

 the Ogo province of Nigeria. 

 Ficus asperata. Sandpaper Leaf. Ekpin (Yoruba) ; Ameme 

 (Benin). 



It is a common tree in the Ogoja, Owerri, Benin, Onitsha, 

 Ibadan, Ondo and Abeokuta provinces of Nigeria. 



It is often found as a small, scrubby tree, though when 

 fully grown it reaches a girth of 8 feet, especially in the Benin 

 province. The rough leaves are harsh to the touch. 



The pigeons are very fond of eating the fruit and seeds. 

 The wood is white and soft. 



The leaf is of the usual Ficus style, with a short stalk and 

 deeply dentated, making almost a five-lobed leaf. 



The leaves might be useful as a substitute for sandpaper. 

 It has not so far been cut for export or local use. 



Native Use. — The leaves are used for cleaning calabashes 

 by the Yorubas and Benin j)eople. 

 Ficus sp. Ograw (Yoruba). 



Found in the Abeokuta province. 

 Musanga Smithii. Cork-wood or Umbrella Tree. Agbawo or 

 Aga (Yoruba) ; Ogohen (Benin) ; Oro (Brass). 



It is a very common tree, found growing in new clearings 

 amongst the evergreen and mixed forests of the Calabar, 

 Ogoja, Owerri, Onitsha (?), Warri, Benin, Ondo, Ibadan and 

 Abeokuta provinces of Nigeria. 



