THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 359 



than the larger ; the seed, while being pointed, is stoutly cone- 

 shaped and rather more than a quarter of an inch in diameter 

 at the base, and of a light brown colour. 



Timber. — The sapwood is narrow and white in colour 

 and the heartwood is a dull red. It is very hard and tough, 

 but not so heavy as L. procera. It planes only with a rough 

 surface. 



Silvicultvral Characteristics. — This is one of the few trees 

 which successfully resist the annual grass-fires. Its otherwise 

 prolific seed-bearing capacity is, however, often very much 

 diminished, if not completely spoilt, by the flowers being burnt 

 in January and February, the usual time of the grass-fires. 

 It is a light-lover, but for the reasons already given is a very 

 slow-growing tree. On the whole, although the seeds germinate 

 well, stool and root shoots are probably the chief means of 

 reproduction. The soil under these trees is only partially 

 protected during the growing, and quite exposed to sun and 

 wind during the dry season. 



Commercial Value. — Samples of these seeds were sent in 

 1909 to the Imperial Institute for valuation, when they were 

 found to be worth about £10 a ton ; 43 per cent, of oil can 

 be obtained from the kernels, and this is said to be suitable 

 for soap-making and to be worth £25 per ton. Commercial 

 quantities, however, have not yet been exported. 



Meni oil was formerly obtained from the seed. 



Native Use. — Amongst the Yorubas the tree is used for 

 house-posts, especially when the stem is forked about 10 feet 

 above the ground. The leaves, bark and roots are all sold in 

 the native markets for medicinal purposes. An infusion of 

 the bark of the roots is supposed to be a cure for jaundice 

 (yellow fever, according to the natives). Strangely enough, 

 the seeds are not used as a source of oil. 

 Ma insculpta. 



Found at Olokemeji. 

 Gomphia glabriana. 



It is a shrub found at Olokemeji. 

 Gomphia nr. offinium.. 



Found at Ilugbro. 



Guttiferse. 



Garcinia conrauana. False Cola, Bitter Cola. Orugbo (Yoruba) ; 

 Edun (Benin) ; Odji (?) (Brass) ; Efiori Efrie (Efik) ; Efrie 

 (Kwa). 



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

 provinces of Nigeria. 



