THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 399 



At first fairly fast-growing, later on it is rather slow. It 

 is very fire-resisting, but does not thoroughly protect the soil. 

 It has not been felled for export, nor has it been sawn up for 

 local use. It serves a useful purpose amongst the dry-zone 

 vegetation, and is one of the larger trees of that zone. 

 Vitex Fosteri. Ori-eta (Yoruba) ; Obuban, Ibang (Benin) ; Ogi 

 (Calabar). 



Chief Characteristics. — It is a medium-sized tree with thin, 

 white bark and voluted stem, which is not overstraight beyond 

 15 or 20 feet, soft and fibrous ; one of the common trees 

 in the mixed forest, though also found in the evergreen forest. 

 It has a thin, digitate leaf. It usually stands as one of the 

 dominated trees in either forest. The leaves often look 

 silvery, but this is an optical illusion, owing to their being so 

 thin and white on the underside. 



Distribution. — It is found in the Abeokuta, Ibadan, Jebu, 

 Ode, Benin and Calabar provinces of Nigeria. 



Timber. — It is a hard, white wood of even texture and smooth 

 grain, which is apparently durable for interior work. It is 

 somewhat like hornbeam, though not quite so hard. It works 

 up with a smooth surface. 



Silvicultural Qualities. — It is a shade-bearer, though, if planted 

 pure, it is doubtful whether its foliage would thoroughly protect 

 the ground, owing to its being so thin. Natural regeneration 

 by seed is apparently good. 



Use. — It would probably make good verandah-posts, door- 

 frames and window-frames, but so far has not been tried. As 

 there is plenty of it, proper supplies could be obtained in the 

 provinces named. 



Value. — At present doubtful, as it is an untried wood ; 

 however, belonging to the same family as teak, it should find 

 a place amongst the valuable small timbers for local use. 

 Vitex diver sifolia. 



It has been noted from the Oban Reserve. 

 Clerodendron Thonningii. Egwa, Oriakuku (Benin). 



It is an ornamental shrub of the Benin province of Nigeria, 

 found near the Osse River. 

 Clerodendron Thompsonii. Egwa oviakuku (Benin). 



A medium-sized shrub with woody stem found in the Benin 

 province. 

 Clerodendron scandens (Beauv.). 



It is a large shrub with hard wood of the Benin province 

 of Nigeria. 

 Clerodendron volubulu. Ebenote (Benin). 



Found in the Benin province. 



