100 NIGERIA SOUTHERN PROVINCES 



some variation, possesses certain marked characteristics, 

 may be said to fall under the following general description : 



Fruiting heads generally large. Fruit large, orange to 

 scarlet in colour, with a variable amount of purplish black 

 suffusion at the apex, which may extend over more than 

 half of the fruit or may be altogether absent. Pericarp 

 thin, kernel large with a thick shell. Names : " Ope 

 yope " or "Ope pankora " (Yoruba), " Ok-poruk-pu " 

 (Ibo), "Udin" (Beni), " Ak-porro-jub " (Efik), " Irok- 

 Eyop " (Ibibio), " Abe pa " and perhaps " Abe dam " 

 (Fanti, Gold Coast), " Tug bore " (Mendi, Sierra Leone), 

 " Tabel-tiloli " (Timani, Sierra Leone), " Tengo " (Man- 

 dingo, Gambia), " Kabe-kalako " (Jolah, Gambia), 

 "Neul" (Joloff, Gambia), " Qua-qua " (Haussa, N. 

 Nigeria), " Yi-ku-niche " (Nupe, N. Nigeria). Only the 

 typical form has as yet been observed in Sierra Leone, 

 Gambia, and Northern Nigeria. 



The other particularly important variety is that com- 

 monly referred to as the " soft-shelled " or " thin-shelled " 

 palm fruit, which has been recorded from many localities 

 in West Africa. The following description will include 

 the forms contained in this group : 



Fruiting heads often large. Fruits large or small, 

 generally the latter, dark coloured. Pericarp thick, 

 kernel rather small, with a thin shell. Names : " Ope- 

 Arunfo" (Yoruba), "Au-su-ku" (Ibo), " Ivioronmila " 

 (Beni), " Asoge-e-jub " (Efik), " Eduege Eyop " (Ibibio), 

 " Abe-bobe " (Fanti, Gold Coast). 



The third kind is that frequently called the " Fetish " 

 or " King " palm nut. It is rare wherever it occurs, and 

 is scarcely worth consideration from an economic stand- 

 point. The tree which bears this fruit has been described 

 under the distinct specific name of Elceis Thompsoni, 

 Chevalier. 



Fruiting heads generally small. Fruits medium-sized, 

 red with black markings occasionally present. Pericarp 

 moderately thick, kernel and shell medium. The nuts, 

 which possess four eyes, are not used in the manufacture 

 of commercial oil, but are employed in connection with 

 the worship of the deity If a (Dennett). Names : " Ope 

 Ha" (Yoruba), " Ojuku " (Ibo), " Oged-udin " (Beni), 

 " Affia-ko-jub " (Efik), " Efiako-Eyop " (Ibibio), " Abe* 

 ohene " (Fanti, Gold Coast). 



