394 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



sprouts well from the stump, and a certain number of root 

 suckers appear. It stands pruning well. 



The tree does not really reach a large enough size to yield 

 export timber, or to be of much value for local use. It is, 

 however, commonly used as a swizzle-stick. 



In places where building timber is scarce, it is occasionally 

 used in house-building. It could be, and sometimes is, used 

 as a live fence. 

 Polyodoa umbellata (Stapf.). Oak or Boxwood. Aini (Egba) ; 

 Erfti (Yoruba) ; Osu (Benin). 



It is a medium-sized tree which grows to a girth of 4 feet. 

 The young stem is easily recognized by the longitudinal strips 

 of lenticels, joined together with the dark-green cortex, showing 

 between each strip. When older, lenticels appear on the stem 

 and it may be quite grey or white. 



The wood is a dirty yellow colour and very hard, resembling 

 box in the fineness and the hardness of its grain. It is used 

 by the natives for making combs for the hair ; these combs 

 have six prongs about 6 inches long and are sold at 6d. to Is. 

 apiece. It is used for house-building, and is considered the 

 most durable timber for this purpose ; it is forked about 15 to 

 20 feet from the ground. The bark is used medicinally by the 

 natives (Yorubas). 



The leaves are a yellowish-green, gradually turning a rich 

 dark -green. The small greengage-sized fruits appear in pairs 

 at the ends of the shoots, and occasionally in threes, but this 

 is rare. 



It likes moist ground, though it will stand a long dry season, 

 so long as it has the shade of other trees. It is a distinct shade- 

 bearer, though it grows a fair height when it has a chance. The 

 flowers are white and have a very pleasant smell. 



Only a very small quantity of latex exudes when the tree 

 is cut, and so does not give the impression of belonging to 

 the rubber family of Apocynacese. 



The sap wood is a similar colour to the heartwood. It is 

 not always straight, but this is owing to its slow growth causing 

 it to be amongst the dominated trees. In older trees the 

 stem is usually quite white, except where the bark has been 

 removed. 



A sample was sent to England in 1914 and was said to 

 be valueless as a substitute for boxwood. In 1906 samples 

 were shipped to Liverpool, where it was sold as a species of 

 oak at Is. 9d. per cubic foot, but it was not considered as good 

 as that obtained from Awaw, Eba, Lophia procera or Ostryo- 

 derris impressa. 



