284 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



used by the natives. In a few places small plantations have 

 been made with this tree. It is very fire-resisting, and ap- 

 parently the fruit-bearing capacity of the tree is not reduced 

 to any extent by the prevalence of the annual grass-fires in 

 the localities where it is found. During the whole of its life 

 it is a slow-growing tree. 



The yellow pulp in the pods is eaten by the natives. The 

 bark at the base of the tree is chipped o£E and used for making 

 a tonic when infused with water. The tree is occasionally 

 used locally as a house-building timber ; for this purpose it is 

 used chiefly as uprights in the main buildings. 



The timber has not been tried for export, and it is doubtful 

 whether its size warrants its use for this purpose. 

 Tetrapleura Thonningii. Angular Pod. Aridan (Yoruba) ; Ig- 

 mikkia (fruit), Ikhememi (tree) (Benin) ; Osshosha (Ibo, Asaba). 



The dark-green feathery foliage on its oval crown is very 

 typical of this tree, especially when it is found near a roadside 

 in the mixed forests. It is also often found on river banks at 

 the edge of the dry zone or in other parts of the mixed forests. 

 The indehiscent pods with four edges, leaving practically no 

 centre, are most typical of the tree ; they are shiny and have 

 a peculiar medicinal smell. The fruit is known as Igmikkia, 

 by which name the tree is most usually called by Europeans, 

 in the Benin country. 



The tree is prevalent in the Abeokuta, Ondo, Oyo, Benin, 

 Onitsha, Owerri, Calabar and Ogoja provinces of Nigeria. 



It is a shade-bearer and thoroughly protects the ground 

 all the year round, except for about two weeks when the leaves 

 fall. Natural regeneration does not appear to be good, seed- 

 lings being rarely found, and no plantations have been made 

 with it, though if of more value it might be mixed with teak. 

 The seeds always command a ready sale at a low price. 



The wood is hard, brown, and splits badly. No use 

 has yet been found for it. It is sometimes cross-grained, the 

 sapwood white. 



The natives use the timber for making doors, window-frames 

 and benches. The seeds are sold in the Yoruba, Benin and 

 Ibo markets ; they are cooked for soup, which acts as a slight 

 aperient or is of other medicinal value. 

 Millettia Thonningii (Baker). Ito (Yoruba) ; Ebakwe (Benin). 



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

 It is a small tree really, reaching a girth of only 4 feet, with 

 a short bole and a few somewhat slender and drooping branches. 

 The twigs and new leaves are distinctly of weeping habit. In 

 February, in the mixed forest, the bare tree shows up with 



