THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 339 



as it is said to form tartar on the teeth. Amongst the Yorubas, 

 parts of the roots and branches are used for axe and hoe 

 handles. 

 Spondias sp. Ekika Aja (Yoruba). 



This tree may be the same as Pseudospondias microcarpa, 



but it has only been determined from a specimen obtained 



from the Oshun Reserve. This is somewhat further south 



and in a moister region than the Pseudospondias microcarpa. 



Pseudospondias microcarpa. Okika (Yoruba). 



It is a somewhat rare tree in the Abeokuta and Ibadan 

 provinces of Nigeria. Apparently there is a small-fruited 

 tree of this species in the Olokemeji Reserve. The tree itself 

 attains a larger size than S. lutea, reaching a girth of 8 feet 

 and a bole of 20 feet. The growth is less free and the bark 

 is much darker and more fissured than S. lutea. It has not 

 been felled for export ; the natives have no particular use 

 either for the wood or the fruit. 

 Anacardium Occidentale. Non-indigenous Cashew Nut. Kaju 

 (Yoruba). 



This tree has become a garden escape on the Ekoi plains 

 near Lagos, where it forms dense thickets. It is not indi- 

 genous to West Africa. The tree bears well, and the Brazilians 

 resident in Lagos make a jam out of the fruit. The nuts are 

 roasted and regularly sold in the market, to Europeans chiefly. 

 The branches of the tree are sometimes lopped off and cut 

 into short pieces for firewood. It is usually of very sprawling 

 habit, with a short bole only 3 or 4 feet long. It is not found 

 in the forest proper. 

 Botanical name unhnoivn. Blacksmith's Charcoal Wood. Akkun 

 (Yoruba) ; Azimommon, Onyenu (Benin). 



It is found in the Benin and Abeokuta provinces of Nigeria, 

 Obagie Reserve and Oyon River. 



It is a large tree, with large leaves and compact crown. 

 It has a very small, berry-like fruit ; found growing on moist 

 soil in the evergreen forest, sometimes found in the fringing 

 forest of river banks of a dry zone. 



Timber. — The timber is very hard, grey in colour and perhaps 

 flexible. The bark is rough and finely fissured. It is inclined 

 to peel off. The slash is pink. The wood is very fibrous, and 

 in the cross-cut section the pieces between the fibres look 

 like very small i3inholes. The wood when freshly cut has 

 a sweet, rather pleasant smell. 



European Use. — It has not, so far, been sold for export 

 or local use. 



Native Use. — The stems of the small trees are used for axe- 



