GOLD COAST REPORT ON FORESTS. 19 



almost any calls made on it. The reproduction of this speciesis very 

 fair, and the age gradations better represented than is usually 

 the case with West African timber trees. 



2. The ~\]~(i>r-iriitr of the Fantis (TripJorliiton J <>!/ nsunii). A 

 fine lofty tree that attains large dimensions. It is found 

 throughout the evergreen and mixed deciduous forests of the 

 Gold Coast and Southern Nigeria, right up to the limits of the 

 open Savannah forests. It reproduces itself freely by seed, and 

 young plants spring up in large numbers on recently abandoned 

 farm lands. The age gradations are well represented. The 

 species attains its maximum frequency in the mixed deciduous 

 forests of the country. Like the Dahomah it is one of the few 

 species that appear to be if anything rather favoured by the 

 clearings made in the forests for farming purposes. On aban- 

 doned areas of that character, it quickly gains the ascendancy 

 over most of its competitors. It is partially deciduous in its 

 habits, even in the moist forests. In the deciduous type, I have 

 sometimes noticed it to be almost completely denuded of leaves 

 during the dry season of the year. The wood is of fine grain, 

 light in colour, and only moderately hard; it is well suited for 

 the internal fittings to houses, and, in fact, for all purposes 

 where it would not be exposed too much to rain. It is quite good 

 enough in quality to replace the imported pitch-pine, and it is 

 extremely abundant ; our West African forests contain sufficient 

 supplies not only to meet large demands for it in the home 

 markets, but also in the local ones. The tree has an excellent 

 form figure, and carries its girth up well to the first branches. 



3. The Assomah of the Fantis (Parkia species). One of the 

 West African locust-bean trees, the pod of which is edible. This 

 species is an evergreen. 



4. The Offram tree of the Fantis (a species closely related to 

 Terminalia superhn). This is a beautiful straight-stemmed 

 tree of good-form figure, with the branches coming out 

 at right angles to the stem in almost regular whorls. 

 It is flat-topped and has a great range through the forest areas 

 jf the Gold Coast. In the mixed deciduous forests, and up to 

 the limits of the Savannah lands, it is deciduous, but in the 

 nioister regions it is almost an evergreen. It seeds most 

 copiously, and like the Waw-u'aw and the Dahomah springs up 

 freely on abandoned fann lands. The wood is light in colour, 

 and as it splits very freely and regularly, it is much used for 

 shingles by the Ashantis and other cognate tribes. The shingles 

 last, on the average, for about seven years. No doubt if tarred 

 they would prove to be much more durable. 



5. The Afram of the Fantis (probably a species of Parinarium}. 

 A common tree in the moist forests. Grows to a large size, but 

 the wood is light, soft and porous, and almost useless. The fruits 

 are edible. 



6. Eriodendron anfi-actuos inn. The Common West African 

 silk-cotton tree, and one of the giants of the moist forests. 



7. The Kaku (Lophira procera). This is the " red iron-wood ' 

 tree of Southern Nigeria ; the wood is of a deep reddish-brown 



12315 B 2 



