178 COLONIAL REPORTS "MISCELLANEOUS. 



B. The Fresh-water Swamp Forests. 



This is an edaphic formation, and is composed of plants that 

 have adapted themselves to growth in a permanently wet soil. 

 They have much the appearance of plants inhabiting the rain 

 forest, but are not so crowded. The formation is a comparatively 

 open one. The swamps occur chiefly in the vicinity of the larger 

 rivers, and are often caused by their overflow. They occur also 

 in hilly country along some of the deeper valleys. 



The vegetation most partial to such areas contains, amongst 

 trees, the Kaku or red iron wood tree (Lpphira procera), the Boya 

 (M itrar/yne macropliyUa}, Macrolobium PnUsotii, Macrolobium 

 *h/)ulaceum, Cynometra Afzelii, Cynometra Mannii, Pterocarpv* 

 esculentus, the Nyamedua (Alstonia congensis], Treculiaafricana, 

 and Anthocleista nobilis. 



The palms are represented by the bamboo palm, Raphia Vini- 

 fera, and Calamus Barteri. 



Shrubs by Sarcocephalus Russeggeri, Urophyllum liirtellum, 

 and Anona palustris; water-lilies by Nymphaea stellata, and N. 

 Lotus ; the Amaryllids by Crinum natans, and C. purpurascens. 



Orchids by species of aquatic Lissochilus, such as L. longifolius 

 and L. rose-us. 



The Aroids are represented by the West African " sudd or 

 cabbage weed," Pistia Stratiotex, which often escapes into the 

 streams and seriously interferes with navigation, and by large- 

 leaved species such as Anchomanes dubius and Cyrtosperma sene- 

 galense. 



A small balsam with pretty red flowers, J-mpntiens Irvingii, also 

 occurs in the shallower places. 



Amongst the trees some species, such as the Kakn and the 

 Nyamadua, are often found along the edges of the swamps, and 

 occasionally at a distance from water, but they are always at their 

 best when either growing in the swamps or close to them. During 

 the dry season they are practically defoliated. 



In the savannah regions the fresh water swamps are generally 

 fringed by a belt of Mitragyne africana, several species of 

 Crinums, and the fibre plant Honckenya fid folia. The most 

 valuable species from the swamp formations of the rain forest and 

 monsoon forest districts are : 



For timber 



The Kaku (Lophira procera), which, so far as is known, fur- 

 nishes the most durable timber of the West Coast. As a fuel the 

 wood has very high calorific properties. It is confined to the 

 maritime zone. 



The Baya (Mitragyne macrophyUa} also yields a good timber 

 that is said to have been exported to Europe as mahogany. 



Fibres 



The valuable Piassava fibre is prepared from the rachis of the 

 leaves of the bamboo or tonibo palm, Raphia mnifera. 



