GOLD COAST REPORT ON FORESTS. 175 



The tropical rain forests of the Gold Coast and Southern 

 Nigeria contain trees of very lofty growth scattered amongst those 

 of more moderate dimensions. The outline of the top of the 

 forest vegetation is very irregular in shape, and is frequently in- 

 terrupted by the crowns of these giants, which include the 

 Kftayas, Pseudocedrelas, the Odoum (Clilorophora excelsa), the 

 Wau'-icaic (Triplocliiton JoJtnsonii), the Offram (Terminalia 

 superba), the silk cotton trees, Eriodendron anfractuosum and 

 Bombax brevicuspe, the Dahoinah (Piptadenia africana), and 

 another species of the same genus, the Balm (Mimusops Djaxe), 

 which is a veritable giant, Antiaris to.ricaria, the gum copal tree 

 (species of Cyanothyrsus), the Biunwe (species of Detarium), the 

 incense tree (Santiriopsis Klainei), and the Kokoti (Pynaertw 

 ealaensis). 



The other constituents of the forests are represented, amongst 

 many others that have not yet been identified, by the Afram (prob- 

 ably a species of Parinarium), the Etnril (species of Terminalia), 

 the AtlitiiraJi (Pentacletln-fi macrophylla), the Asomah (Parkin 

 species), the Essia (Combretum species), the Awania (Ricinoden- 

 dron a/ricamix), Tetrapleura Thonningii, Bcrlinia acuminata, 

 Muxanga Smith ii, the umbrella tree, Monodora myristica, Mono- 

 dora tenui folia, the A /ana and Apurro (unidentified, small trees), 

 Voacanga africana, Rauwolfia vomitoria, Alstonia congensis, the 

 silk rubber tree (Funtumia elastica), the Bosse (Giiarea species), 

 the Pebedum (Loroa Klaineana), Albizzia rhombifolia, the 

 OJcisibiri or " Flintwood tree," Myrianthns arboreus, the Kishia 

 (Sarcocephalus esculentvs), a new species of Afzelia, Heritiera 

 vtilix, Allanblackia floribunda, Distemonanthus Benthamianiis, 

 Motandra guineensis, Bertiera montana, Combrctum comosum, 

 Diospyros species, Clerodendron violaceum, Mussaenda erythro- 

 phylla, species of Heckeldora, Canarium Schweinfurthii, Carpo- 

 lobia hi tea, Usteria guineensis, species of Baphia, Berlin in 

 auriculata, Tricliilia species, Pentadesma butyracea, Irvingia 

 Barteri, Acacia pennata, Cynometra Afzelii, Caesalpinia Bondn- 

 cella, species of Acalypha, Macaranga, and the oil palm, Elaei* 

 gvineensis. 



As a rule, the trees in the rain forests are connected one with 

 another by a regular network of climbers. Epiphytes are crowded 

 all over the stems and larger branches. Several tiers of vegeta- 

 tion corresponding to the heights attained by the component 

 species are to be met with, and under all a deep gloomy shade 

 prevails, relieved only occasionally by spots of sunshine on 

 clearings formed by the downfall of some forest giant. The air is 

 saturated with moisture, and is, as a rule, remarkably still ; con- 

 ditions very favourable to luxuriant forest growth throughout the 

 area inhabited by the rain forests. The dry season is of short 

 duration, is frequently interrupted by showers of rain, and the 

 Harmattan winds are feebly developed. 



The virgin forests of this type are as a rule comparatively free 

 of tangled undergrowth. The latter seems to be a secondarv 

 development brought about by the destruction of the vegetation 

 for farming purposes ; in the older forests the undergrowth is 

 straight and not very dense, so that it is possible to walk about in 

 it without having to continually use the knife to clear a way 

 through the forest. 



