308 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



protects the soil and improves it with its leaves decaying year 

 after year. 



The natives have not used the tree, nor has it been felled 

 for local use by Europeans. It has also not been tried for 

 export. 



Pandanacese. 



Pandanus candelabrum. Screw Pine. Ebbo (Benin). 



In some rivers of the Abeokuta, Ondo, Benin, Warri, Onitsha, 

 Owerri and Calabar provinces of Nigeria it is a common water- 

 shrub or small tree. Often it is seen only a tangled mass of 

 long prickly leaves, armed with spikes all down each side and 

 half floating in and above the surface of the water. Sometimes, 

 again, it is seen as a tree with two or three more or less com- 

 plete whorls of branches on the uppermost part of the stem 

 and a mass of drooping leaves from the crown. The white 

 stem is supported by several soft, corky-looking aerial roots. 

 It seldom exceeds 2 feet in girth and 30 feet in height. The 

 white flower is very conspicuous, with its cone-like shape, which 

 becomes more pronounced as the fruit begins to ripen and turns 

 green. The scent is very pungent and overpowering. The 

 trees form almost impenetrable thickets at the edge of the more 

 sluggishly flowing rivers. These often impede navigation and 

 have to be cut away. 



The stem is very porous when dry, and cannot be said to 

 yield timber, though the cork-like material might serve for a 

 light substitute for it. 



Natural regeneration appears to be very good. 



The fibre has not been exported in any quantity, but it 

 is very tough, and apparently very durable and of moderate 

 length (average 3 feet). 



Native Use. — When dried the leaves are used for making 

 mats for wrapping goods as well as for sleeping-mats. In the 

 Benin and Jekri country, long (2 feet) thin receptacles are made 

 which are used for salt, which is sold in these bags in the 

 market. The bag keeps the salt dry. It is sometimes planted 

 near villages in damp places for the purpose of obtaining the 

 mat material locally, where it is not found naturally in the 

 swamps. 



Humeriacess. 



Aubrya Gabunensis. Brass Mahogany-bark Tree. 



This is a very large forest tree of the Brass district, with 

 a bark very similar to that of mahogany, but to which it bears 

 no relationship. 



