290 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



It planes up, however, with a smooth surface, is very durable and 

 termite-proof. It does not take nails well, but saws fairly easily. 



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

 and soil-improving tree. Natural regeneration appears to be 

 good. It appears to be a little exacting in regard to soil. It 

 is slightly fire-resisting, chiefly, perhaps, owing to the fact 

 that few weeds or grass grow in its shade. No plantations 

 have been made of this tree. It bears a good crop of fruit 

 almost every year. 



It has not been felled for export, nor has the timber been 

 sawn up for local use. It was formerly used in the Congo 

 for pulley-blocks, for which purpose it is said to be admirably 

 suited. Amongst the natives it is sometimes used for house- 

 building. 

 Nr, Newtonia. Boji Albizzia or Giant Pod. 



It is rather an uncommon tree of the Boji Hills forest ; 

 the enormous flat, papery pod makes it easily distinguishable 

 from any other tree. 



The pod is about 15 inches long and 9 inches wide, with a 

 slight depression in the middle of one side. 

 Pithycolobium altissimum. Bent Pod or Gambia Pod. 



It is a medium-sized tree, found at the edge of swamps 

 near the sea coast in the evergreen forest zone. It appears 

 to stand a waterlogged soil. 



The pods are used for tanning hides and making ink (Moloney). 

 It has curious semicircular pods, which are typical of the tree., 

 containing eight to ten seeds. 

 Afzelia sp. Waterside Ekpagoize. Ekpagoize (Benin). 



It is found in the Benin province of Nigeria. It is a medium- 

 sized tree, reaching a girth of 7 feet and a bole length of 

 40 feet. 



This tree has often been confused botanically with Berlinia 

 acuminata, but it is undoubtedly an Afzelia. The flowers 

 are of a reddish colour and very pretty ; the foliage is not quite 

 so heavy as that of the other Afzelias ; the pod is rather smaller 

 than that of either Afzelia Africana or Afzelia cuanzensis. The 

 wood is a reddish-brown colour, a little cross-grained, but 

 more durable than the other Afzelias. It does not split well, 

 and can only be planed with difficulty ; the grain is very coarse 

 and fibrous. Samples of this timber have been shipped 

 to England and sold as red oak. The natives scarcely ever 

 use the wood, partly because the tree is not very prevalent. 

 Afzelia cuanzensis. Bilinga, Red-arilled Afzelia. Aiyo (Yoruba) ; 

 Aligna (Benin) ; Igbin (Brass) ; Onuru, Oshoshi (Ibo, Owerri) ; 

 Mbarakun (Oban, Ekoi). 



