264 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



timber is hard, with a certain amount of rigidity, and yet has 

 no resilience. 



It is a slow-growing tree and shade-bearer. Judging by 

 the number of small trees found, reproduction from seed must 

 be good. It does not sprout from the stool, and root suckers 

 are thrown up after the trees have been felled. It likes moist 

 and deep soil, which must be moderately good, e.g. the red 

 soil of Benin and sandy loam of Badagry district. 



In 1906 samples of the wood were sold in the Liverpool 

 market as Sabicu and realized Is. to 2s. per superficial foot. 

 It has also been used for European house-building in the 

 Calabar province. 



Native Use. — It is chiefly used for making paddles. It is 

 also used for joists and posts by the Benin people. 

 Uvaria Chamce (Kew). Eruju (Yoruba). 



It is a large shrub with sweet-scented flowers. Lagos 

 Island. 

 Artabotrys sp. Ako gbogbonshe (Yoruba). 



It is found in the Olokemeji Reserve of the Abeokuta 

 province of Nigeria. 

 Monodora temiifolia. African Nutmeg. Lakosin (?) (Yoruba) ; 

 Unyenghen (Benin). 



In j'ounger trees there are a few narrow white streaks in 

 the dull green bark, which gives it quite a distinctive appearance. 



Chief Characteristics. — It is a medium-sized tree with yellow 

 flowers tinged with white, most conspicuous after they have 

 fallen to the ground. The flower has three petals with 

 wavy edges, and reminds most people of an orchid. In fact, 

 many have asked whether it is not an orchid. The leaves 

 are light green, especially on the under-side, though darker 

 as the rainy season advances. The fruit is a spherical drupe, 

 containing several small nuts or seeds. The tree flowers before 

 the leaves come fully out, so that it looks very handsome 

 indeed. It is, in fact, one of the prettiest of all the flowering 

 trees. It flowers at the end of February or at the beginning 

 of March. It reaches a girth of about 2 feet and a bole length 

 of about 10 feet, though it is often much branched from about 

 4 feet from the ground. 



It is quite common in the Abeokuta province of Nigeria, 

 especially in the Olokemeji Reserve and on the road between 

 that place and Mamu, in the Benin province, as well as being 

 found in the mixed deciduous forest zone. 



The timber is hard and white and fairly durable. It is 

 tough and does not split well. 



Although it stands a little shade it is a somewhat slow- 



