THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 337 



in girth, attaining a bole length of about 40 feet. Its small, 

 pretty five-petalled flowers fall off the tree and cover the path 

 or neighbouring bushes ; their scent is very pleasant and is 

 reminiscent of honey and flowers. 



The sapwood is white and the heartwood light red brown, 

 rather hard, of close grain and close texture ; it planes moderately 

 well, but it is rather hard to saw and does not split. It is 

 durable under cover, but does not last when exposed to the 

 weather. It hardens very considerably when exposed to the 

 air. The timber was used for verandah-posts in the Calabar 

 district, but did not prove very suitable, as a large borer often 

 attacked it. The timber is not absolutely termite-proof. The 

 natives occasionally use the wood for house-posts. 

 Phyllanthus reticulatus. Iranje (Yoruba). 

 Found in the Olokemeji Reserve. 

 Phyllanthus sp. Awe, Erigaba (Yoruba) ; Eghogho (Benin). 



Found in the Olokemeji Reserve. 

 Cyclostemon. Oyen (Benin). This may be the same as Uafaca 

 Hevdelotii. 



It is a medium-sized tree of the Abeokuta and Benin 

 provinces of Nigeria. It has aerial roots and likes a damp, 

 moist soil. It has red flowers which come out in February. 

 It yields a hard, reddish wood, which is rather fibrous. 

 Manniophyton Africanum. Ebumen (Benin). 



This is a small creeper similar to that known as Okwe by 

 the Benis. 

 Manniophyton sp. Okwe (Benin). 



This is a long creeper found in the Benin and Ogoja provinces 

 of Nigeria. 



The nut of this creeper is most commonly seen in the cooked 

 state in the markets, when it appears like a dark-coloured 

 marble. The soft shell can be cracked between the fingers, 

 and the hardish white nut is seen inside, being about 1 inch 

 in diameter and very meaty. A few of these almost take 

 the place of a meal. Thus far the plant has not been cul- 

 tivated, the natives only picking the fruit as they find it 

 in the forest. The fruit is four-cornered and contains one nut. 

 Palissya cordata. Ipa (Yoruba) ; Unwonwen (Benin) ; Abo 

 Asha (Ibadan). 



It is found in the Benin forest. A medium-sized tree, 

 which might be examined with a view to being a source of 

 dyeing material. 

 Macaranga Barteri. Arasa (Yoruba). 



A small tree or shrub found in Tropical West Africa. 

 Claoxylon Barteri (Hook.). Itakun, Okare (Yoruba). 

 It has small flowers. Found near Ipetu. 

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