360 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



It is a medium -sized tree with close, spherical-shaped crown. 

 The branches and leaves are comparatively small. The bole 

 is short and the branches very persistent. The most typical 

 feature of the tree is the large apricot-like fruit, of an orange- 

 yellow colour. The bark is smooth and brown in colour. It 

 is found in the evergreen forest The nut is oblong, of a very 

 dark brown colour with small white streaks all over it. It 

 grows in moist soil. 



The timber is very hard and close-grained, with yellow 

 sa.pwood and light-brown heartwood. It is said to be durable 

 and planes with a smooth surface. It is often found at a con- 

 siderable elevation — up to 3,000 feet towards the northern part 

 of Calabar province. 



It is a shade-bearer, though it is often found growing alone, 

 having been left isolated when the original forest was cleared 

 to make a farm. The tree grows very slowly but bears com- 

 paratively early, and trees are often seen quite laden with the 

 yellow fruit. 



The timber has not been exported, but has been cut for 

 local use. It was used by the Public Works Department, 

 Calabar, and proved useful for wall-plates. The nuts have 

 occasionally^ been exported, but they are comparatively valueless 

 compared to the real Cola. 



Native Use. — The nuts are sold in the Yoruba and Calabar 

 markets and 100 to 200 for 3d. in the Benin market. The 

 fruit is also eaten. The roots are used for chewing-sticks (the 

 best in Benin), and taste like quinine. The nuts are ground 

 and used medicinally for headache. 

 Garcinia Kola. 



A little known species, found in the Eastern Provinces, 

 Uwet. It was subsequently determined as Garcinia conravana. 

 Garcinia Mannii. 



This tree is found in the Western Provinces. 



Uses. — Chew-stick is made from the root. 

 Garcinia, var. nov. brevipedicellata. 



This tree grows in the Eastern Circle. 

 Pentadesma sp. ?. Hardwood, Duika's Chop Fruit. Ogbia (Yoruba) ; 

 Ekuso or Ikujo, Efiari (Benin). 



This tree is found in the mixed forests of the Benin province 

 of Nigeria. One of its chief characteristics is that it has little 

 or no bark, but the cortex is comparatively thin, and remains 

 of a duck-egg-green colour even in trees of comparatively large 

 size. It reaches a girth of about 6 feet and a bole length of 

 about 20 feet. However, it is usually very much forked com- 

 paratively low down, and often the stem is by no means straight. 



