THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 807 



less as thick veins at the base, and then subdividing into 

 thinner ones, spreading round the nut in an irregular manner. 

 The decaying fruit has a most unpleasant, not to say dis- 

 tinguishing, smell. However, this is more than compensated 

 for bj^ the jsleasant taste of it when served as stewed fruit. 



The sapwood is whitish-yellow, and the heartwood brown- 

 red. It is hard, with somewhat fibrous grain, yet planes up 

 with a good surface. Takes nails, but does not split well. It 

 is durable, and supposed to be termite-proof, except for the 

 sapwood, which the white ants often destroy. It saws moder- 

 ately easily. In older trees the wood sometimes shows a little 

 figure. 



It is a somewhat slow-growing tree and a shade-bearer, 

 with soil-protecting and soil-improving qualities. In fact, in 

 most cases it is only found on comparatively rich soil, and in 

 this respect appears to be more exacting than many other trees. 

 Natural regeneration does not appear to be very good, but this 

 may be due to the fact that animals eat the seeds. No plan- 

 tations have been made of this tree. 



In 1906 samples of this timber were sold in the Liverpool 

 market as mahogany at 2|d. per superficial foot, 3s. per cubic 

 foot. It was reported to be of very hard texture, a dirty brown 

 colour, and only one log sold. Since that date, however, none 

 has been exported. It has not been felled for local use. The 

 fruit can be stewed, and makes a nice addition to the other 

 African fruits. 



Native Use. — The shell of the nut is used for making prayer- 

 beads and strung on a wire. 

 Druosia laxiflora. Shedun (Yoruba). 



Found in the Olokemeji Reserve and Ibadan province. 

 Paradaniellia Oliveri. Ilorin Balsam, African Balsam of Copaivi, 

 Balsam. lya (Yoruba) ; Osia (Benin) ; Ozia (Ishan) ; Ozaba 

 (Ibo Asaba). 



Found in the dry zone of the Southern Provinces of Nigeria. 

 A common tree, growing to a height of 40 or 50 feet. 



Use. — Balsam of Copaiba. 

 Xylia Evansii. Bentpod. 



It is found in the Ogoja pi'ovince of Nigeria in the mixed 

 deciduous forest zone, but it is by no means a very common tree. 



A medium-sized tree, with the curious bent-shaped pod 

 typical of the Xylia, found in the Obubra and Ikom districts 

 of Nigeria, on the left bank of the Cross River. It has a hard, 

 red wood, which splits well. The sapwood is white, but not 

 very wide in an average-sized tree. 



It is a slow-growing, shade-bearing tree, which thoroughly 



