THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 289 



leaf has two pairs of pinnse, with one end leaflet. The small 

 pod containing two oi- three flat seeds is most typical of this tree ; 

 the seeds are f inch in diameter and of a dark-brown colour ; 

 the flowers are white ; the timber is cross-grained and rather 

 hard ; the sapwood is white and the heartwood of a dark 

 brown. The tree is a shade-bearer, soil-protecting and improving. 

 It is usually found amongst the undergrowth in the thicker 

 parts of the evergreen forest zone. Natural regeneration 

 is usually good. The wood is used locally in the Yoruba and 

 Benin country for posts ; it has not been sawn uj) for planks, 

 nor has it been exported to England. 

 Macrolohium stiptdacecB. 



It was stated it was found in the Calabar province. 

 Nr. Macrolobium sj). Ogabeszi (Benin). 



It is found in the Benin province of Nigeria. It is a small 

 tree of the evergreen forest zone. The foliage is very dense. 

 The tree has a short bole of about 15 feet, and the crown is 

 much branched ; the pod is rather larger than Macrolobium 

 palisoti. According to the natives, this is the " Ogaba " of the 

 waterside. The timber has not been exported to Europe, nor 

 do the natives use this somewhat hard wood to any extent. 

 Dialium Guineense. Pulley Wood, Velvet Tamarind. Awin (lb.) 

 (Yoruba) ; Ohiorme (Benin) ; Amoyin (Egba). 



It is found in the Ibadan, Abeokuta, Benin, Calabar and 

 Ogoja provinces of Nigeria. In the mixed deciduous forests 

 it is very prevalent in certain localities. Of medium size, it 

 rarely exceeds a girth of 5 feet. Where found, it often com- 

 prises over 10 per cent, of the standing stock of the forest. 



The wood is used for small boats in Senegal. It exudes 

 a red-coloured sap in small quantities. 



The fruit, with its flat and round, velvety little pods, is most 

 typical of this tree. These are of a very dark chocolate colour, 

 and in the distance appear almost black. The bole is usually 

 silver-grey. The slash is light-red, and the reddish, latex- 

 like substance exudes when the bark is cut. The crown is 

 dense and compressed, being mainly made up of a number 

 of small branches. In proportion the leaves are small and 

 make a very dense foliage. The rusty-red slashing marks, 

 or other marks caused by damage to the trunk of the tree, 

 show up most distinctively, especially against the grey surface 

 of the cortex, are one of the most distinguishing features of 

 this tree. 



The sapwood is white, the heartwood is dull-red, rather 

 larger in proportion than we should suspect, compared with the 

 size of the tree. It is hard and tough, and does not split well. 

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