THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 401 



durable. The natives use it for fences, and the roots are mashed 

 and used by Benis for cuts in the fingers. The bark and fruit 

 are also used medicinally by the Yorubas. 

 Marhhamia tomentosa. Iru, Ay a, I we (Yoruba). 



It is found in the Abeokuta province of Nigeria, in the 

 mixed deciduous forest zone. 



It is a tree 4 to 6 feet in girth, with a large leaf having five 

 pairs of pinnse, the lowest being very small, like stipules. A 

 deciduous tree bearing small fruit. A very common tree. 



The timber is a soft, white wood, which is not used. It 

 is attacked by white ants, and is not durable except under 

 cover. 



The tree is a light-lover, quick-growing, and non-soil-im- 

 proving. Natural regeneration is moderate, so that it does 

 not spread too much. The tree has not been felled for export 

 timber, nor has it been cut for local use. 

 Newbouldia Icevis. Benin Ju-ju Tree. Akkoko (Yoruba) ; Ikhimi 

 (Benin). 



It is found in the Calabar, Ogoja, Owerri, Warri, Onitsha, 

 Ondo, Benin, Ibadan and Abeokuta provinces of Nigeria. 



It is a small tree, scarcely exceeding 4 feet in girth. It 

 has a large, oblong, dark leaf. It is most commonly seen in 

 the middle of a compound with a pot at the base of it. The 

 flowers are trumpet-shaped, white-coloured at the base and 

 rose-red at the mouth. The fruit is a long, thin black pod, 

 which opens releasing many flat, winged seeds. The seed is 

 yellow and in the middle of the wing. 



The timber is white and soft. 



It has not been exported or cut for local use. 



Native Use. — The tree is used to mark boundaries. It is 

 a " Ju-ju " tree, both in and outside the compound. It is some- 

 times used for fences. It is used by the Yorubas for rafters. 



Acanthaceae. 



Thunbergia Vogeliana (Benth.). Blue Benin Thunbergia. Ohwohiro 

 (Benin). 



This is a shrub with handsome blue flowers ; it is moderately 

 common in the Central Circle. 



Rubiaceae. 



Sarcocephalus eu-esculentus. Sierra Leone Peach. Egbesi (Yoruba) ; 

 Aragbaihi (Benin) ; Amellaky or Egbessye of Sierra Leone. 



It is found in the Abeokuta, Ibadan, Benin, Onitsha, Owerri 

 and Ogoja provinces of Nigeria, where it is common in the open 

 deciduous forest. 



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