THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 385 



sionally a large boring beetle burrows into the wood when it 

 is lying on the ground. However, the grubs which do this 

 damage are considered a delicacy by the natives, so that wherever 

 found they are soon collected and eaten. The younger tree 

 grows with branches more or less in whorls, but not so 

 regular as those of M. multinervis. When fresh it is liable 

 to warp. It keeps its colour better than most of the ebonies. 

 It occasionally shows a little figure. In proportion it has the 

 largest heartwood of any of them, and for this reason is a 

 most valuable tree. 

 Diospyros Kamerunensis. Cameroon Ebony. 



This tree has been found in the Boji Hills Forest as well 

 as in the Cameroons. Although not of great size, it yields a 

 comparatively large and black-hearted ebony. The fruit is 

 much larger than that of most other species. It is comparatively 

 prevalent at an elevation of about 1,000 feet in the Boji Hills, 

 Up to the present it is doubtful if it has been worked at all. 

 The natives have no use for the tree. 

 Diospyros Barteri. Ebony Nut or Yam Stick. Ivioha (Benin). 



Small ebony-shrub of the Benin province of Nigeria, found 

 near Okomo in rather moist ground. The natives have no 

 use for the wood. 

 Diospyros bipendensis. South Cameroon Ebony. 



It is supposed to be found in the Oban Reserve. 

 Diospyros crassiflora. Benin Ebony. Aborkpor (Benin). 



It yields the black ebony of the Benin country and is 

 somewhat prevalent. Found in the Benin, Abeokuta and 

 Onitsha provinces of Nigeria. A tree with a small leaf. 



It forms almost pure groups or even small stands, of half 

 a mile and less in extent, near the banks of the Niger. It can 

 stand swampy ground. It used to be cut in the Onitsha 

 district. 

 Diospyros sp. Benin Ebony. Isanhianme or Ehrenyegbo (Benin). 

 A common tree of the Benin province of Nigeria. It is 

 supposed to yield a good ebony. It does not reach a very large 

 size. It is a soil protecting and improving tree. Locally it 

 is used for house-building. 



In 1906 samples of this timber were sold in the Liver- 

 pool market as mahogany at Is. 6d. per cubic foot. Since that 

 time it has not been exported. 

 Diospyros atropurpurea (Gurke). Brown Ebony. Igedudu (Yoru- 

 ba) ; Igedudu (Benin). 



It is a small tree, attaining a girth of about 4 feet. The 

 heartwood is usually brown with black streaks, giving it a 

 curious and diverse streakiness, not unlike black marble or 

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