GOLD COAST REPORT ON FORESTS. 



Meinchin {Pdtophorum? species); the Waw-Waw (Tri- 

 Jolinxoini); the silk-cotton tree (EriodentI ron nnfnicl 

 the Dahomah (Piptadenni africana); the Asomali (I'drkui 

 species); the Samanta {Xylia Evansii); the Okiaibirl or Flint- 

 wood tree (not vet identified); the Essia (Couth return species): 

 this is one of the "Stink-wood ' trees; the Nyemidua (Alston ia 

 conyensis) ; and a host of others that for want of flowers and fruit 

 could not be identified. 



The above list, however, is sufficient to enable those persons 

 acquainted with the forest flora of tropical West Africa to form a 

 mental picture of the type of forest just described. 



The oil-palm, though not common, is still pretty well distri- 

 buted over the area. As far as I could ascertain only one species 

 of Sterculia appears to be found here, and that is a tree which 

 seems to be a small variety of S. cordifolia, a species that is at its 

 optimum in numbers and size further north in the semi-evergreen 

 or mixed deciduous type of forest. 



The Maiisi Elver is an important stream and quite deep enough 

 in the rainy season to float down timber of the largest dimensions. 

 Some patches of elephant grass (Saccharum xpontaneuni '?} were 

 seen on its banks. 







The dominant species as usual are the DaJwmaJi, Waw-waw, 

 silk-cotton tree, the Emril, Off ram, Asomali, and Awaina; after 

 which come the Khayas and Pseudocedrelas. 



The Forests between Ahirisu (Mansi River) and N'Kwansia 



(Ankobra River). 



The water-parting between the Ankobra River and its feeder 

 the Mansi is a low one, well covered with tropical evergreen high 

 forest. The valleys leading from it are very moist, and tree-ferns 

 are quite common along the banks of the perennial streams that 

 drain them. On the alluvial narrow plain carved out by the 

 Mansi stream, a good deal of forest has been cleared for farms, 

 the abandoned sites of which are now being occupied by Musanga 

 Smitliii and the Waw-waw. The vegetation clothing the hills 

 contains a fair number of mahoganies and cedars. The Odoum, 

 Kokoti and the gum-copal tree, Asiadua (Cyanothyrsus ogea) 

 are also far from uncommon, whilst the dominant species 

 are represented by the Dahomah, Asomah and Waw-waw. One 

 specimen of the ' incense-tree ' ; (Boswellia Klaineana) was 

 Keen, as well as some young examples of the Odoum (Cliluro- 

 plwra cd'celsa) that had been tapped by the natives for the latex, 

 which is used by them for adulterating that of the silk-rubber tree 

 (Funtumia elastica.) 



To the north of the water-parting, in the vicinity of N'kwausia 

 village, other and more extensive clearings have been made. The 

 older ones are UOAV occupied by the Awama and Emril, as well as 

 Musanga, Waw-waw, and the Off ram, species that form the usual 

 inhabitants of such sites. Another species, with deciduous 

 leaves, Albizzia Broicnci, has made its appearance in the 



