274 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 
and a height of 70 feet. The bole length does not exceed 
40 feet. The bark is light-brown, almost yellow-brown, with 
rough fissures and fibrous surface, more like an elm, though 
thinner. The branches are thin and light-coloured. In flower 
the tree is a mass of little yellow peaflowers, and numerous 
bees swarm round the crown of the tree, indicating its presence. 
Again, when the fruit ripens the crown is a mass of yellow- 
brown winged fruits all fluttering in the wind. They are 
always in bunches near the ends of the twigs. The fruit is 
round and flat, with no hairs on it, with a thin papery wing com- 
pletely surrounding and joined to it, which makes it rather thicker 
and stiffer than the other species. It is not at all typical of 
the Pterocarpus genus. The seed in the centre has a rough 
surface. The trunk usually is not quite straight, having a 
slight bend or two in its length. In habit, more like a Com- 
bretum or young elm to look at. The crown is round, almost 
spherical, and does not usually occupy more than one-third 
of the height of the tree. 
The sapwood is white; the heartwood is of a dull purply 
colour, which is inclined to stain into the sapwood after the 
tree is cut down and exposed to rain. On the whole the colour 
of the wood is deeper than that of the other Pterocarpus, but it 
is said to yield a less fast and poorer coloured red dye than 
that of the other species, P. Osun. It is moderately hard. 
It planes well, and is sometimes cross-grained. It takes nails 
easily, but does not split very well, though it saws with com- 
parative ease. 
Although it stands a good deal of shade in its youth, it 
is apparently a light-demanding tree with soil-protecting and 
soil-improving qualities. It is not very fast-growing. Natural 
regeneration appears to be poor, chiefly, perhaps, owing to 
the fact that the seeds are quickly eaten by small boring insects 
soon after they fall to the ground. It is rather exacting as 
to soil, and prefers the deep, moist, sandy loam. Only isolated 
specimens are seen. 
The timber has not been exported yet, and despite the 
fact that it does not reach such a large size as P. Osun, it 
deserves a trial. For local use it should find a place for house 
construction in a similar position to which the Osun and others 
are used by the natives. 
It has not been cut or used as a dye root, chiefly owing 
to its poorer colour. It is, however, used in house-building. 
Pterocarpus. Cross River Camwood. 
It is found in the Obubra district of the Calabar province 
of Nigeria. In habit it is very similar to the other Camwoods. 
