GUIDE TO TIMBERS OF NIGERIA 51 



size as the tree ages : 2-3 per sq. mrn. ; arranged in prominent 

 oblique lines, mostly inclined the same way, but occasionally 

 reversed ; simple or in radial groups of 2-3 pores, otherwise 

 widely isolated ; shape, oval ; contents, some dark resin. 



Rays just visible here and there in the darker wood ; of one 

 kind ; regular in size and spacing, at intervals of 2-6 times the 

 breadth of a ray ; weak ; many thin ends, but in general 

 tapering but little ; number per mm. 7-8. Proportion of the 

 wood about one-sixth. 



Ground-tissue-cells visible with the macroscope. 



Rings apparently well denned, but the true boundary is 

 difficult to fix ; there are light and dark zones ; contour regular. 



Radial section. Vessels have dark, shining linings and 

 contain a little resin. P. (a) abundant as borders and tails to 

 the vessels, but it lacks contrast. Rays visible as minute flecks 

 by reflection. Rings vague. " 



Tangential section as the radial, but the rays are visible only 

 by the matt effect that they produce, being dull, dark and very 

 brown, giving the tone to the section ; not in parallel but 

 nearly so (rather in echelon) ; height about 0*25 mm. 



SAPWOOD. " Slash yellow with a light brown tinge . . . 

 sap wood white and comparatively wide " (Unwin, 1920, pp. 

 279, 280). " Sapwood reddish-yellow " (Harms, I.e.). " Pink- 

 ish-white with patches of a very light yellow " (Chev., I.e.). 

 From specimen 3267 : Grey, well, but not sharply defined from 

 the heartwood. 



BARK. " Smooth, somewhat red on the outside, carmine-red 

 on the inside " (Harms, I.e.). " Greyish-red finely fissured " 

 (Chev., p. 182). 



USES, ETC. " Strong canoes " (Unwin, p. 45) ; " sleepers " 

 (p. 97) ; " durable and almost termite-proof, though the sap- 

 wood is rapidly attacked " (p. 280). 



Conservator's note. " A large evergreen tree plentiful in the 

 evergreen forest. The timber is hard and does not float when 

 green ; it is said to be durable." 



Density, No. 3288, 0-64, or about 40 Ib. per cu. ft. 



' 3104, 0-59 37 ' 



3267, 0-652 40J 



3057, 0-75 46J 



0729, 0-775 48| 



