356 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



utilize the fruit, while in others they saj^ it is of no value. It 

 appears to be a whiter and softer Cola than that of the other 

 species, and it does not seem to have such a strong flavour. 



The timber is hard and white ; it is a shade-bearing and 

 soil-protecting tree. Natural regeneration appears to be poor. 



The wood is occasionally used by the local fetish-maker 

 for certain types of fetish in the Benin country. It is con- 

 sidered the most suitable and, in fact, the only wood for this 

 purpose. Although the ordinary Cola which is planted may 

 not be cut, this species is not immune, but it is certainly con- 

 sidered most proper if only the image-maker cuts it. 

 Dombeya Buettneri. Ewe ofo (Yoruba). 



It is found in the Abeokuta province of Nigeria, especially 

 in the Olokemeji Forest Reserve. It is a small, shrub-like 

 tree, varying from 7 to 15 feet in height. The bark is fibrous. 

 In 1908 samples of the fibre were submitted to the Imperial 

 Institute for valuation. Owing to its being rather harsh, woody 

 and weak, it was stated to be worth from £7 to £8 a ton. 



Ochnacese. 



Ochna multiflora. Canoe Tree. Uruk (Efik) ; Tei tei (Ijor) ; 

 Tei tei (Brass) ; Elili (Ibo Owerri). 



It is found in the Owerri, Warri and Ondo (?) provinces 

 of Nigeria. It is one of the prevalent trees in the evergreen 

 and brackish swamp forest zone. The tree reaches a girth 

 of 15 feet and a bole length of about 60 feet. It has a large 

 digitate leaf, making the foliage of the tree very heavy and 

 dense. The bark is thick and fissured longitudinally. The 

 crown is long and egg-shaped. The fruit is large, roughly 

 spherical in shape, but ribbed in five places on the surface. " 

 It is a shade-bearer, and reproduction is chiefly by seed. The 

 wood is reddish-brown and moderately hard. This is one of 

 the most favourite trees for canoe-making amongst the Brass 

 people. Having a straight grain, the log opens out well into 

 a canoe once it has been hollowed out in the centre. 



Ochna sp. Sama (?), Duma name. 



It is found near Obudu, in the Ogoja province of Nigeria. 

 It is a small tree of the open deciduous forest, growing at an 

 altitude of about 1,500 feet. The flowers are umbellate and 

 of a pretty red colour. It is a light-lover and grows at the 

 edge of the forest. 



The natives apparently have no use for either the wood 

 or other parts of the tree. 



Lophira procera. Red Ironwood, African Oak, Red Oak. Ela, 

 Ekki (Yoruba) ; Eba, Ebba (Benin) ; Eleba (Jekri) ; Kuru 



