THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 243 
Life or King Palm. Eviromilla (Benin). This is the meaning 
according to the Benin name. 
It is found in the Colony of Lagos, and Abeokuta and Benin 
provinces of Nigeria. On the whole, it is an uncommon tree, 
but there is no doubt of its being an indigenous tree to this 
part of Africa. The leaves are long and very compressed, 
being set at an acute angle to the leaf stalk and of smaller 
size than in any other species. It gives the palm almost the 
appearance of a Cycad. It also looks as if the leaves had closed 
up with the cold or were not fully developed. The leaves also 
are of a much darker green (almost olive-green) thdn the ordinary 
palm. Amongst the Benis it is considered the Sacred Oil Palm 
Tree, the nut obtained from it being especially revered. From 
the Resident’s office is seen one of these trees which was 
planted in the Benin City Arboretum some nine years ago. Itis 
a very slow-growing palm, having scarcely one quarter of the 
rate of growth of the ordinary oil palm. The stem is much 
thinner in proportion to the height than the ordinary oil palm ; 
and it does not attain more than half the height of an oil palm. 
When growing in a group, it gives quite a funereal appearance. 
The nuts are used by the natives as ‘‘Ju-ju” of divination 
to see into the future. It is said that “‘ the nuts talk,” in the 
Benin country, where the tree is held to be that-of everlasting 
life. 
Elesis sp. Ope trumfo (Yoruba). 
Abeokuta province, Yoruba country. 
Elesis sp. Small Oil Palm. Ope Ifu No. I (Yoruba); Ogiedi 
(Benin). 
Abeokuta province, Yoruba country. 
Elesis Guineensis, var. Lisombe. Palm, or Lisombe Palm, or 
Soft-shelled Palm. Ogeddin (Benin). 
The main difference of this species is in the small oblong, 
pointed fruit on a much smaller drupe, and the larger quantity 
of oil obtained from the- pericarp and the very small kernel 
in the nut. It is also much softer to crack. The foliage looks 
a fresher green than the ordinary variety; also the leaflets 
are placed at an acuter angle to the leaf stalk than the other. 
It is not very prevalent in the Benin, Abeokuta, Calabar 
and Ogoja provinces of Nigeria. 
Silviculture —The nuts, when sown, do not germinate true 
to species, except for a few per cent. It is planted in the Indem 
country of the Ogoja province. 
Native Use.—The oil is collected in a similar way to the 
other, but is liked more by the natives of Benin. The kernels 
are used for making oil as well. 
