THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 367 



Lccythidaceas. 



Napoleona Whilfieldii. Ito (? Yoruba) ; Uruhe (Benin). 



It is doubtful if these are the correct native names for 

 this species. 

 Napoleona imjierialis. Speckle-fruited Napoleona. Boi Boi 

 (Yoruba). 



It is found near Ode district, Oban and Igbeshe, in the 

 Ibadan and Abeokuta provinces of Nigeria. 



It is a deciduous shrub with pretty white flowers, very 

 shiny leaves, which are alternate, and bears a spherical, orange- 

 coloured fruit (with a russet-like surface having white lenticels 

 scattered nearly all over it), which ripens in March at the 

 Olokemeji Reserve. 



This shrub protects and enriches the soil with its fall of 

 leaves. Considering the attractiveness of the flower and the 

 fruit, it is surprising that it has not more frequently been 

 planted in gardens, where it should be placed in a shady 

 corner. It is slow-growing, and does not need much light. 

 It likes a moist, fairly deep, good soil, especially near a 

 river bank. 



Native Use. — The stem is occasionally used for making hoe 

 or axe handles, for which it is suitable, as the wood is com- 

 paratively tough, close-grained and hard. The knottiness of 

 it is an advantage either for the handle or for fixing the hoe 

 or axe head. 

 Napoleona Vogelii (Hook). Orokwa, Ogemme (Benin). 



It is a common tree in the Calabar, Benin, Ibadan and 

 Abeokuta provinces of Nigeria. 



Chief Characteristics. — It is a medium-sized shrub-like tree, 

 with orange-shaped fruit, though not quite spherical, having 

 small white lenticels on the surface and roughness like a russet 

 apple. It does not attain a girth of more than 3 or 4 feet. 

 It is usually found in the mixed deciduous forests, though 

 more often in clearings in the forests ; however, it stands a good 

 deal of shade. The wood is comparatively hard, but it does 

 not reach much size. The tree protects and enriches the soil 

 with its fall of leaves, and serves a very useful purpose as a 

 shrub amongst the undergrowth of the forest. It might be 

 planted in gardens, where both the flower, which is large and 

 white, and the fruit would be admired. It usually bears a large 

 number of both. It is rather a slow-growing tree. The natives 

 use the wood for making matchet handles. 

 Napoleona Owariensis. Adere, Isiurem (Lagos). 

 Found in the Olokemeji Reserve. 



