274 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



and a height of 70 feet. The bole length does not exceed 

 40 feet. The bark is light-brown, almost yellow-brown, with 

 rough fissures and fibrous surface, more like an elm, though 

 thinner. The branches are thin and light-coloured. In flower 

 the tree is a mass of little yellow peaflowers, and numerous 

 bees swarm round the crown of the tree, indicating its presence. 

 Again, when the fruit ripens the crown is a mass of yellow- 

 brown winged fruits all fluttering in the wind. They are 

 always in bunches near the ends of the twigs. The fruit is 

 round and flat, with no hairs on it, with a thin papery wing com- 

 pletely surrounding and joined to it, which makes it rather thicker 

 and stiffer than the other species. It is not at all typical of 

 the Pterocarpus genus. The seed in the centre has a rough 

 surface. The trunk usually is not quite straight, having a 

 slight bend or two in its length. In habit, more like a Com- 

 bretum or young elm to look at. The crown is round, almost 

 spherical, and does not usually occupy more than one-third 

 of the height of the tree. 



The sap wood is white ; the heartwood is of a dull purply 

 colour, which is inclined to stain into the sapwood after the 

 tree is cut down and exposed to rain. On the whole the colour 

 of the wood is deeper than that of the other Pterocarpus, but it 

 is said to yield a less fast and poorer coloured red dye than 

 that of the other species, P. Osun. It is moderately hard. 

 It planes well, and is sometimes cross-grained. It takes nails 

 easily, but does not split very well, though it saws with com- 

 parative ease. 



Although, it stands a good deal of shade in its youth, it 

 is apparently a light-demanding tree with soil-protecting and 

 soil-improving qualities. It is not very fast-growing. Natural 

 regeneration appears to be poor, chiefly, perhaps, owing to 

 the fact that the seeds are quickly eaten by small boring insects 

 soon after they fall to the ground. It is rather exacting as 

 to soil, and prefers the deep, moist, sandy loam. Only isolated 

 specimens are seen. 



The timber has not been exported yet, and despite the 

 fact that it does not reach such a large size as P. Osun, it 

 deserves a trial. For local use it should find a place for house 

 construction in a similar position to which the Osun and others 

 are used by the natives. 



It has not been cut or used as a dye root, chiefly owing 

 to its poorer colour. It is, however, used in house-building. 

 Pterocarpus. Cross River Camwood. 



It is found in the Obubra district of the Calabar province 

 of Nigeria, In habit it is very similar to the other Camwoods, 



