THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 347 



It is found in the Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ogoja and Benin 

 provinces of Nigeria, in the mixed forests, where it is not very 

 common. 



Chief Characteristics. — Compared to Bombax reflexum it 

 has a smaller leaf, smaller thorns, but not so many on the stem. 

 It has a similar red flower, opening, however, much more 

 widely. It reaches about the same size as the Bombax. 



The timber appears to be very similar in most ways to 

 B. reflexum. It has not been felled for export, nor has it been 

 used for planks for local use. Occasionally the leaves are 

 used for medicinal purposes. 



There appears to be some doubt as to whether this is really 

 a separate species from that of B. reflexum. It is, however, 

 sufficiently different to be considered quite a distinct variety, 

 though perhaps not actually a different species. 

 Adansonia digitata. Monkey Bread, Baobab. Ose (Yoruba) ; 

 Usi (Benin). 



It is a moderately common tree in the Onitsha and Abeo- 

 kuta provinces of Nigeria. Isolated specimens are also found 

 elsewhere. The most typical feature of this tree is the huge 

 thick trunk, tapering up into the branches, out of all proportion 

 to the length of these and the twigs. These are much thicker 

 than the branches and twigs of other trees. The green, 

 elongated spherical-shaped fruits hang by a stalk, giving the 

 tree the appearance of one decorated for a Christmas festival. 

 The leaves are truly digitate and not unlike those of the cotton- 

 tree, though they are thicker and darker in colour. The bark 

 is very thick, spongy and fibrous, and of a light-grey colour. 

 The bark, seeds and roots are used medicinally. The fruit 

 is eaten in time of scarcity. 



The fibre is used in England for paper-making. 



Sterculiaceae. 



Sterculia Rhinopetala. False Chestnut. Ekko Okpon, Orodu or 

 Orodo (Yoruba) ; Enwiwan (Benin) ; Otutu (Jebu) ; AwTaw 

 (Egbado). 



It has a smooth, light-green bark, which remains soft, but 

 is whitish with age. The wood is white and soft, and appar- 

 ently there is no difference in the heartwood. It has a small 

 seed with a wing on each side of it. For external work it is 

 not durable, but when seasoned for internal fittings, such as 

 doors or ceilings, it is more useful. 



It is common in the Oyo, Benin, Calabar and Abeokuta 

 provinces. It is found in the mixed deciduous forests, espe- 

 cially in the Mamu and Ilaro Forest Reserves. Also, wherever 



