FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 325 



des Colonies Frangaises, Exposition Universelle de 

 1867,' p. 44; 'Encyclopaedia of the Industrial Arts, 

 Manufactures and Commercial Products,' p. 1668 ; 

 ' Medicinal Plants,' Bentley and Trimen, vol. ii., No. 

 81, &c. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Lower Guinea. 



" Ossam," Loiichocarpiis sericms, H.B.K. — Erect tree 

 30 to 40 feet high, very common on the sea-shore. 

 Wood close-grained and durable. The bark is em- 

 ployed in abdominal complaints, and for children 

 as a laxative. — Gabon, ' Catalogue des Produits des 

 Colonies Frangaises, Exposition Universelle de 1867,' 

 p. 47. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Lower Guinea. 



West African Indigo ; Yoruba name " Elu " Wild 

 Indigo {Lonchocarpus cyanescens, Benth.). — Woody 

 climber, 20 to 30 feet long. From specimens collected 

 by Captain Moloney, C.M.G., on the Gold Coast, it 

 is clear that this plant, or a closely allied species, is 

 the source of an abundant supply of indigo, which, 

 according to Mr. Barter and Captain Moloney, is 

 contained in the leaves, and is prepared by the natives 

 by powdering them in a mortar and forming them 

 into pasty balls and dried ready for the market. It is 

 used in dyeing cloth, and affords a fine deep and per- 

 manent blue, which is mixed with potash. In England 

 it is worth from 4J-. to 4J. 6d. per lb. — ' New Economic 

 Products at the Royal Gardens, Kew,' W. T. T. 



