304 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



fore a large oval one. The flowers are little yellow spike, 

 which are very inconspicuous ; they are borne on the old wood 

 rather on the underside of the twig, in November or December 

 and later. The tree stands dense shade, and it thoroughly 

 covers the ground and prevents the growth of weeds. 



It has a tendency to branch comparatively low down, 

 when growing as an avenue tree, and thus does not grow 

 so tall. This, however, has an advantage that the large pods 

 have not so far to fall to the ground, and thus are not so 

 dangerous to passers-by. The oil-beans have been collected 

 and sold in England in small quantities. 



The sapwood is of a dirty white colour and the heartwood 

 of a dark brown, forming comparatively early in the life of a 

 tree. The wood is very hard, but sometimes rather soft- 

 grained, rather fibrous in texture, and the pores are somewhat 

 wide and deep. It does not plane well, splits with difficulty ; 

 holes have to be made before nails can be put into it, and it 

 saws none too easily. It is very durable and termite-proof. 

 Considering its hard wood and comparatively early production 

 of seed, and the huge pods, it is by no means a slow-growing 

 tree. It reaches a height of 9 to 12 feet in twelve j^ears. The 

 pod is the stoutest and largest, but not the longest, of all 

 African timber trees. The beans are collected in boxes and 

 sold to the factories at 6d. to 9d. each. To be made quite 

 safe for eating they have to be boiled nearly twelve hours, 

 the outer husk of the bean being rather hard, though not 

 very thick. The future will alone show whether this tree will 

 prove of greater value for timber or oil production. 



Uses. — The timber has been shipped to Europe and sold 

 as greenheart at Is, 6d. to Is. 9d. per cubic foot. Locally, 

 in the Benin City district and elsewhere, it is used for making 

 mortars for beating yams and other food. The beans are 

 eaten by the natives in most parts, though they are not con- 

 sidered a delicacy. The empty pods are used where firewood 

 is scarce, as they burn well. It is, and has been, very extensively 

 used as a shade- tree for public roads in the Owerri district, 

 as well as in Afikpo and Benin. Some people object to the 

 falling pods, but it is an excellent shade-tree, especially in 

 the dry season, as it is an evergreen tree. It is a soil- 

 protector, and would do for underplanting or interplanting 

 teak. 

 Pterogopodium. Agba, Pink Mahogany. Asokale, Asu Kole 

 (Ikale) ; Asre (Yoruba) (Egbado) ; Agba (Benin). 



The scattering of the white flowers on the path or road- 

 way is an indication of the presence of the tree, quite apart 



