304 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 
fore a large oval one. The flowers are little yellow spike, 
which are very inconspicuous ; they are borne on the old wood 
rather on the underside of the twig, in November or December 
and later. The tree stands dense shade, and it thoroughly 
covers the ground and prevents the growth of weeds. 
It has a tendency to branch comparatively low down, 
when growing as an avenue tree, and thus does not grow 
so tall. This, however, has an advantage that the large pods 
have not so far to fall to the ground, and thus are not so 
dangerous to passers-by. The oil-beans have been collected 
and sold in England in small quantities. 
The sapwood is of a dirty white colour and the heartwood 
of a dark brown, forming comparatively early in the life of a 
tree. The wood is very hard, but sometimes rather soft- 
grained, rather fibrous in texture, and the pores are somewhat 
wide and deep. It does not plane well, splits with difficulty ; 
holes have to be made before nails can be put into it, and it 
saws none too easily. It is very durable and termite-proof. 
Considering its hard wood and comparatively early production 
of seed, and the huge pods, it is by no means a slow-growing 
tree. It reaches a height of 9 to 12 feet in twelve years. The 
pod is the stoutest and largest, but not the longest, of all 
African timber trees. The beans are collected in boxes and 
sold to the factories at 6d. to 9d. each. To be made quite 
safe for eating they have to be boiled nearly twelve hours, 
the outer husk of the bean being rather hard, though not 
very thick. The future will alone show whether this tree will 
prove of greater value for timber or oil production. 
Uses.—The timber has been shipped to Europe and sold 
as greenheart at Is. 6d. to 1s. 9d. per cubic foot. Locally, 
in the Benin City district and elsewhere, it is used for making 
mortars for beating yams and other food. The beans are 
eaten by the natives in most parts, though they are not con- 
sidered a delicacy. The empty pods are used where firewood 
is scarce, as they burn well. It is, and has been, very extensively 
used as a shade-tree for public roads in the Owerri district, 
as well as in Afikpo and Benin. Some people object to the 
falling pods, but it is an excellent shade-tree, especially in 
the dry season, as it is an evergreen tree. It is a soil- 
protector, and would do for underplanting or interplanting 
teak. 
Pterogopodium. Agba, Pink Mahogany. Asokale, Asu Kole 
(Ikale); Asre (Yoruba) (Egbado); Agba (Benin). 
The scattering of the white flowers on the path or road- 
way is an indication of the presence of the tree, quite apart 
