382 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



This is a moderately prevalent tree in the Calabar, Ogoja, 

 Benin, Ondo and Abeokuta provinces of Nigeria. 



It is a medium-sized tree with a small leaf. It attains a 

 girth of about 8 feet. The golden-brown of the underside of 

 the leaves is most typical of this tree and makes it easily dis- 

 tinguished from Chrysophyllum Africanum ; in fact, in passing 

 through the forest this is one of the few trees having brown 

 tomatose hairs on the underside of the leaf. The crown is 

 broad and flat and heavy. The bole is not too long and is 

 covered with a smooth light-brown-coloured bark. 



The Benin native name means that it is the Monkey Otien, 

 that is to say, not the one that men may eat. It is usually 

 found in the evergreen forest. 



The timber is white, light and soft, and is attacked by 

 termites. It has not so far been cut for export or local use. 



Native Use. — The fruit is sometimes eaten by the Benins. 

 Chrysophyllum albidum (Don.). White Star Apple. Osum Agba- 

 lumo (Yoruba). 



This is one of the Star Apples of the Yoruba Forest, where 

 it is found chiefly in the Abeokuta province. It is not very 

 prevalent. The fruit is not so esteemed by the natives as 

 that of Osangbalumo. The bole is somewhat straighter and less 

 branched than that of C. Africanum. The wood is white and 

 soft ; the stem is not absolutely round, being somewhat fluted 

 at the base, with narrow and thin spurs which extend 4 to 

 6 feet up the stem. The natives occasionally use the wood 

 for household utensils. It has not been cut for export. 

 Chrysophyllum Welwitchii. 



This so-called Forcados Star Apple was found in the forest 

 just behind the station of Forcados. It is not a very common 

 tree. 

 Malacantha sp. nov. Akala (Yoruba). 



It is found in the Olokemeji Reserve and neighbouring 

 parts of the Abeokuta and Ibadan provinces. In many places 

 it is very prevalent, though it does not grow actually gregariously. 

 It reaches up to a medium size. The bole does not exceed a 

 length of much over 15 feet and a girth of 5 feet. With its 

 four narrow, somewhat long (up to 4 feet) buttress root spurns, 

 the base of the stem forms a rather irregular shape. The 

 bark is roughish and scales off to a slight extent as the tree 

 becomes older. 



The leaves are inclined to be placed at the terminals of 

 the shoots and twigs, and the main veins are very prominent, 

 giving the impression that the leaf has only comparatively 

 recently opened. The leaf is a little rough to the touch, and 



