THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 381 



As far as Europeans are concerned, the chief value of the 

 tree lies in its nuts, which are either exported quite unprepared 

 or in the form of the butter as the natives make it, in large 

 elliptical-shaped sausages about 2 feet long and 9 inches in 

 diameter. For these purposes it has become a regular article 

 of commerce, and only lack of suitable means of transport 

 prevents much greater quantities being collected and exported to 

 the European markets. In Europe its most suitable use is 

 said to be as a medium or inside substance of chocolate creams. 

 The butter itself has a most peculiar and rather nauseating 

 flavour, which is removed on its being refined and purified. 

 The timber has not been tried for export. 

 Chrysophyllum sp. ?. Round Star Apple. A species of Star 

 Apple. Agoma (Benin). 



The fruit is quite spherical and supposed to be larger than 

 C. Africanum. It is somewhat similar to C. Kainato. The 

 natives squeeze the fruit in order to eat it. 

 Chrysophyllum Africanum. African Star Apple or Edible Star Apple. 

 Osangbalumo (Yoruba) ; Otien (Benin). 



It is found in the Abeokuta, Ondo, Benin, Warri, Owerri, 

 and Calabar provinces of Nigeria. It is a medium-sized tree, 

 often found growing at the roadside at the edge of the villages 

 or as an avenue leading up to them. 



The most characteristic feature of this tree is the silvery 

 underside of the leaf, which is formed by minute white hairs. 

 In the fruiting season, another characteristic is the golden- 

 coloured, pointedly pear-shaped fruit, which bursts on falling 

 to the ground. A white latex exudes from the fruit ; this latex 

 is sucked out and is tartly sweet to the taste. Inside the fruit 

 are five thin, elliptic-shaped seeds ; these are brown and very 

 shiny. Their position inside the fruit probably gave rise to the 

 English name. 



The wood is white and soft ; it cuts easily and planes well, 

 but does not split well. The grain of the timber is fine and 

 the texture smooth. It is a moderately fast growing tree 

 and the wood is not durable. The slash is white, and the 

 tree exudes a white latex when cut ; the foliage is very dense, 

 and the dark upper surface of the leaves is a great contrast 

 to the underside. It is a soil-protecting and soil-improving 

 tree. The timber has not been exported to Europe. It is 

 occasionally used by the natives for making " Ju-jus" such as 

 the devil. 

 Chrysophyllum sp. Monkey Star Apple or Monkey Otien. Osang 

 Palambi, Osang Edan (Yoruba) ; Ekuso (?), Ekpuro, Otiemmie 

 (Benin). 



