240 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 
usually found in or at the edge of the mangrove swamp, where 
it appears to thrive. It is often rather bent in shape, and 
does not exceed 10 feet in height. It is usually partially 
gregarious, though the groups of this species are much smaller 
than those of P. spinosa. The natives in this locality scarcely 
use it at all. The fruit is rather smaller, and it bears in a less 
prolific manner than P. spinosa. 
Phenix spinosa. Wild Date Palm. Okun (Yoruba); Ukukon 
(Benin). 
It is a common tree in the Ogoja, Benin, Ondo and Ibadan 
provinces of Nigeria. In appearance more like a very thin 
stemmed Oil Palm, on nearer approach the bluish-green, almost 
silvery, more open, shorter and rather sharply pointed fronds 
readily distinguish it from the Oil Palm group. The fruit is 
the shape of a very small date, many of which are borne on 
thin fibrous twigs of a very stout stalk. It is usually found 
in the open deciduous or savannah forest zone. 
The natives use the stems for rafters and house-posts; the 
fruit and bark are used medicinally; and the leaves are used 
for making sieves, hats, mats and bags. 
Calamus dearatus. Benin Cane or Rattan. Erogbo (Benin). 
It is found in the Benin province of Nigeria. It is one 
of the rarer canes of the forest, has a yellow flower, and is found 
near Okenuhen. The canes are used for fences and house- 
building. 
Eremospatha macrocarpa (Mann and Wenal). Small Benin Rattan. 
Ukan (Yoruba); Ikan (Benin). 
It is found in the Benin, Calabar, Ondo and Abeokuta 
provinces of Nigeria. 
It is a common }-inch thick cane, which attains a length 
of nearly 200 feet. It grows in clumps and climbs up over 
the surrounding trees. The fruit is yellow and rather like 
a small larch cone which has not opened. It is used for making 
rope and baskets, tying timber rafts, house-building, etc.; in 
fact, it is the best cane in West Africa. 
Eremospatha sp. Large Benin Rattan. Okakan (Benin). 
It is found in Ondo, Abeokuta, Benin, Warri, Brass, Owerri, 
Calabar and Ogoja provinces of Nigeria. 
It is a large creeper, nearly an inch in diameter and 
attaining a length of nearly 200 feet. It is usually found 
partly growing on other trees in more or less open places at 
the edge of the forest, near river banks, in the evergreen forest 
zone; it is also found at the edges of swamps in the same 
region. It often forms dense cane brakes. One of the most 
typical features of this cane is the reddish-orange cone-like 
