32 GUIDE TO TIMBERS OF NIGERIA 



woods furnished by P. Osun and P. esculentus. According to 

 Welwitsch the present species P. tinctorius provides a part of 

 the dye-powder used by the natives under the names of Hula, 

 Tacula, Lucula and N'gula, and the rest is furnished by P. 

 Cabrce. We have tested this powder and find that it does 

 not give the same reactions as any of our specimens. From 

 the Kew Bulletin of 1906, p. 373, we learn that a part of the 

 Barwood of commerce is from P. Soyauxii. 



VERNACULAR NAMES associated with P. tinctorius. Auchi ; 

 Bendwi (com. to other species of Pter., to Baphia, and Morinda 

 citrifolia). Barwood (com.) ; Bendwi ; Bundwi (com.) ; Igo ; 

 Mubiri ; Muangue ; Nkohen ; Oigo ; Osun (com.) ; Padauk, 

 African; Redwood; Uhie ; Ukpa (com.); Ume (com.) ; 

 Tacula ; Lucula ; Hula. " Muenge " is mentioned by 

 Hopkinson in connection with P. Soyauxii, Taub. 



GENERAL CHARACTERS. A hard and heavy wood of a very 

 rich deep red colour, almost crimson, relieved by slightly 

 lighter and hoary zigzag lines. Grain, coarse, open, very much 

 inclined (cross-grained), producing a very strong roey appear- 

 ance on the quarter. Surface clean, rather cold to the touch, 

 dry and not likely to soil ; weathers to a chocolate-grey. 

 Shade of the transverse section darker than that of the other 

 sections. Strongly resembles the Andaman Padouk. 



STRUCTURE. Very clearly visible on trans, sec., resembles 

 that of other Pterocarpus spp. 



Transverse section. (Prepared with glass-paper.) See PL II, 

 fig. 2. 



Parenchyma of one kind, sheathing the vessels and extend- 

 ing laterally into slightly undulating, practically continuous, 

 concentric lines, occasionally anastomosing, very readily visible 

 and light in colour ; at intervals of about 2-3 times their own 

 width, and varying in width from about half the short diameter 

 of a large vessel to hair -like lines a little thicker than the rays ; 

 number per mm. 3-5 ; mass about one-third. (Perhaps there 

 is an occasional boundary-line ) 



Vessels readily visible as perforations, very large, very widely 

 isolated, there being areas of wood-fibres of 2-3 sq. mm. without 

 a single vessel ; great variation in size, especially in the groups, 

 which are very characteristic, being radially disposed and 

 containing up to sixteen large and small vessels, the smaller 



