THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 267 



sap and heart wood, and it is hard and tough, not splitting 

 at all easil3\ 



It is a somewhat slow-growing, shade-bearing, soil-protecting 

 and soil-improving tree, said to be termite -proof. It has 

 considerable resiliency, and stands a certain amount of bending 

 strain. 



The timber has not been used for export, nor has it been 

 sawn up for planks for local use. 



Native Use. — The Yorubas use the timber for making 

 mortars for food. 

 Parinarium sp. Red Mahogany. Abue (Egbado, Yoruba) ; Da- 

 badogun (Benin). 



It is plentiful in the Benin and the Abeokuta provinces 

 of Nigeria. 



Chief Characteristics. — It grows into a large tree, but is 

 often seen as a small tree, suppressed by other quicker-growing 

 trees. The dense, somewhat spreading crown is a typical 

 feature of the tree. Its large leaves attract attention, espe- 

 cially compared to the size of the tree. The bole is often crooked 

 and covered with dark green cortex, with only a limited amount 

 of fine bark. 



It has a hard, red wood, not unlike mahogany, but with 

 a more fibrous grain. It is durable, especially when left in a 

 wet place. It works up with a good surface and very pleasing 

 colour, making it thoroughly worthy of being a substitute for 

 mahogany. Being a shade-bearer, soil-protecting and soil- 

 improving tree, it should eventually find a place in the forest 

 plantations. Despite its slow growth, its other silvicultural 

 qualities are worthy of attention. 



It has not yet been exported, not has it been felled for 

 local use. For the former it appears to deserve a trial. 



Native Use. — It is used for firewood. 

 Parinarium robustum. Sometimes called Mahogany Nuts, Nikko 

 Nuts ; Benin Mahogany. Ugibisaro (Benin) ; Aiyeni (Egbado) ; 

 Aiye, Aghaghe, Aiyeni (Yoruba). 



It is found in the Abeokuta and Benin provinces of Nigeria, 

 in the evergreen forest zone, where it is not very prevalent. 

 It is a large forest tree, reaching a girth of over 12 feet and 

 a bole length of about 70 feet. In the dry season, in the dis- 

 tance, the leaves show the typical dried-up j^ellow appearance 

 of the Parinariums, especially being somewhat shiny in appear- 

 ance. The fruit is not unlike a very large, very dark green 

 plum, but rather more flattened and not so round. The inside 

 nut is compressedly spherical, showing five large eyes or holes 

 out of which seeds germinate. 



