398 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 



up for local use. For the natives this tree forms what is con- 

 sidered the best " salt bush " in the Jekri country. It is still 

 used for the manufacture of salt, which is considered much 

 stronger than and superior to imported salt. It is also used for 

 poles, house-building, boat and canoe houses and wharves. 

 Vitex grandifolia. Ori (Yoruba) ; Owenkundignon, Oriri Ogikiomi(?) 

 (Benin). 



It is found in the Benin, Onitsha, Owerri and Ogoja pro- 

 vinces, in the open deciduous forest zone. 



The digitate leaf is much larger than that of F. CienkowsJci, 

 and on the whole the tree is larger too, reaching a girth of 

 10 feet and a bole length of 30 feet. The fruit is rather larger, 

 but similar in shape and taste to the former. The branches 

 are very persistent, and coming out more or less in whorls 

 from the bole, give the tree a most distinct appearance. 



The sapwood is white and the heartwood at first light- 

 brown, and then darker brown. It is rather more open-grained 

 than the teak. It does not split very well, but can take nails ; 

 neither does it plane easily, but can be worked up to a smooth 

 finish. It is very durable and termite-proof. 



At first fast growing and later rather slower, it is on the 

 whole a little faster growing than V. Cienkowski. It withstands 

 the fires in an extraordinary manner, and only occasionally 

 does the bole get so deeply burnt that the tree becomes hollow. 

 It bears a large crop of fruit almost every year. 



The timber has not been exported, nor has it been sawn up 

 for local use. It deserves further attention than it has received 

 up to the present, more especially as it is of the same family 

 as the teak. 



Native Use. — The fruit is eaten, and occasionally the smaller 

 trees are used for house-building. 

 Vitex Cienkoivskii. Ori, nla (Yoruba), 



It is a medium-sized tree, attaining a girth of about 8 feet 

 and a bole length of about 25 feet. The bark is rough, divided 

 up with long, narrow vertical fissures, which are more or less 

 regular in their distribution. The crown is spherical, somewhat 

 widespreading, and usually occupies about half the height of 

 the tree. The large, shiny, dark-green digitate leaf is most 

 characteristic of the tree. The fruit, not unlike a large acorn 

 without the cup, is edible and has a slight honey taste. It 

 attracts the bees from far and near. 



This tree is found in the Oyo and Abeokuta provinces of 

 Nigeria. 



Timber. — Hard, brown wood, very similar to teak. It is 

 often rather knotty and sometimes cross-grained. 



