THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES ‘299 
are admirably suited. The outer part of the stem of the creeper 
is very rough and almost corrugated, especially near its base ; 
the leaves are very small, considering the size of the whole 
creeper. It is comparatively slow-growing. It grows in the 
dense evergreen forest, and when drawn taut over the first 
branches of one of the large trees it is not unlike the bole of 
a small tree itself. When cut, the two ends part with a bang, 
like the breaking of a ship’s hawser. The natives use the 
smaller parts of the stem for fly-switches, for which they are 
very good and durable. The creeper is, however, not cultivated. 
Entada Soudanica. Ogurohe (Yoruba). 
Found in the Ibadan province. 
Entada Abyssinica. Unwanwanis (Benin). 
It is found in the upper part of the Benin province near 
Ishoka. It is a large creeper with rather smaller bean than 
£. scandens. The beans have been used for making small 
match-boxes in Europe. The natives consider the bean a 
“ Ju-ju.” 
Dioclea reflexa. Ishe, Agbarin (Yoruba). 
A climber, found in the Ibadan province. 
Mucuna urens. Ox-eye Bean. Awipu (Benin). 
Found in the Benin and Abeokuta provinces. 
Mucuna sp. Prevssiit. Yerepe (Yoruba). 
Found in the Olokemeji Reserve and Benin province. 
Acacia pennata (Willd.). Acacia. Okwekwe (Benin). 
It is found in the upper part of the Benin, Ibadan, Ogoja 
and Abeokuta provinces. It is a small, scandent shrub with 
very sharp thorns, but which yields one of the strongest fibres 
for making fishing lines or native rope. It forms almost im- 
penetrable masses which are very unpleasant to go through 
without a matchet. 
Acacia Sieberiana. African Rosewood. Sie (Yoruba). 
This is a somewhat uncommon Acacia of the Oyo province 
of Nigeria. Being of medium size, its very handsome racemes 
of yellow flowers show up to great advantage. The bark is 
rough, the bole short, and usually divided 8 or 10 feet from 
the ground. The sapwood is white and the heartwood a rose- 
pink colour, which makes it not‘ unlike the typical rosewood 
of commerce. The heartwood is comparatively wide, and it 
is very hard, durable and termite-proof. It saws well and 
splits moderately easily, but does not take nails at all well. 
Reproduction by seed is apparently poor; it sprouts fairly 
well from the stump. It is a light-loving species, but being 
of the leguminous family it is a soil-improving tree. The 
wood has not yet been exported, but locally it has occasionally 
