284 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



Produits des Colonies Frangaises, Exposition Univer- 

 selle de 1867,' p. 45. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Hibiscus surattensis, L. — Herbaceous. Affords a 

 fibre. A specimen of plaited fibre from this plant is 

 exhibited in the Kew Museum from Ceylon. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Lower Guinea, Mo- 

 zambique District. 



Portia or Tulip Tree of India {Thespesia populnea. 

 Corn). — Small tree, the timber of which is durable; 

 used in India for gun-stocks, boats, cart and carriage 

 building, and for furniture. The fibre is used for 

 various purposes, and in Demerara for making coffee- 

 bags ; it is also used in medicine and in dyeing. 

 The flower-buds and unripe fruits give a yellow dye. 

 From the seeds an oil is extracted which might be 

 useful in cutaneous affections. — 'Manual of Indian 

 Timbers,' J. S. Gamble, p. 43 ; ' Treasury of Botany,' 

 Lindley and Moore ; ' Oil-seeds and Oils in the 

 India Museum,' Dr. M. C. Cooke ; Kew Museum. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Mozambique District. 



Cotton, American or Sea Island (Gossypium bar- 

 badense, L.). — Small shrub cultivated in many districts 

 of Tropical Africa, affording the best cotton of com- 

 merce. 



Distribution : .Upper Guinea, North Central, Nile 

 Land, Lower Guinea, Mozambique District. 



