178 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 
tion in the various plantations. Long-capsuled Mahogany grows very 
fast, usually with an undivided stem and a big tuft of long pinnate 
leaves near the top of the tree. Stump shoots form very readily and 
soon attain a large size, as is noticeable in the specimen in the Benin 
Arboretum. 
The plantations of Ebony (Diospyros mespeliformis), Kanran 
of the Yorubas, have been made in the Olokemeji Forest Reserve. 
Although, of course, very slow growing, it demands further attention, 
as it yields a good black ebony. 
Amongst the soft woods there are plantations of Triplochiton 
Nigericum, Arere of the Yorubas and Obechi of the Benis, in the 
Olokemeji Forest Reserve. At first growing rather slowly, they bid 
fair to prove one of the most rapid growing trees. A mixture where 
teak was introduced to fill up the blanks will be interesting to watch 
in its future development, as to whether the teak will eventually 
outgrow the forest maple. 
Although the firewood plantations at Ibadan and certain parts 
of the plantations of Olokemeji have been filled up with West African 
Walnut (Albizzia Brownit), Ayinre Bonabona of the Yorubas, they 
will prove probably of greater value for the production of timber than 
for firewood. However, as a firewood tree it has yielded several cords 
of wood from one tree after only seven years of growth. So far it has 
certainly proved to be the tree which produces the greatest amount 
of firewood in the shortest period of time. It sprouts well from the 
stump, so that for a time its reproduction is very easy and assured. 
The Oil Bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla), Apara of the Yorubas and 
Opaga of the Benis, is found chiefly reproduced artificially, either by 
being sown at stake or planted along the sides of the roads in the 
Owerri and Benin provinces. Considering the hardness of the wood, 
the tree grows not excessively slowly, though, of course, compared 
to a softwood it is slow. 
Camwood (Pterocarpus Osun), Osun by the Yorubas, Ume by the 
Benis, has found a place in the Mamu Forest Reserve, its congener 
Pterocarpus Indicus having been planted in the Olokemeji Forest 
Reserve. However, as far as the size and habit of growth is concerned, 
the African Redwood or Barwood appears to be much superior to 
the Indian Paduak. The latter usually soon develops a triple stem 
with many small side-branches, whereas the African species always 
shows an undivided stem. In rate of growth ‘‘ Osun” seems to be 
rather slow compared to many other trees. Self-sown seedlings come 
up readily in suitable localities, such as the Ikrigon Reserve, and on 
the whole develop more quickly. Anyhow, the continual demand 
in increasing amounts of this red dye-wood necessitates the careful 
preservation of the tree in the forest, as well as its continual reproduc- 
tion by natural regeneration or plantations in the Forest Reserve. 
