808 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 
protects the soil and improves it with its leaves decaying year 
after year. 
The natives have not used the tree, nor has it been felled 
for local use by Europeans. It has also not been tried for 
export. 
Pandanacee. 
Pandanus candelabrum. Screw Pine. Ebbo (Benin). 
In some rivers of the Abeokuta, Ondo, Benin, Warri, Onitsha, 
Owerri and Calabar provinces of Nigeria it is a common water- 
shrub or small tree. Often it is seen only a tangled mass of 
long prickly leaves, armed with spikes all down each side and 
half floating in and above the surface of the water. Sometimes, 
again, it is seen as a tree with two or three more or less com- 
plete whorls of branches on the uppermost part of the stem 
and a mass of drooping leaves from the crown. The white 
stem is supported by several soft, corky-looking aerial roots. 
It seldom exceeds 2 feet in girth and 30 feet in height. The 
white flower is very conspicuous, with its cone-like shape, which 
becomes more pronounced as the fruit begins to ripen and turns 
green. The scent is very pungent and overpowering. The 
trees form almost impenetrable thickets at the edge of the more 
sluggishly flowing rivers. These often impede navigation and 
have to be cut away. 
The stem is very porous when dry, and cannot be said to 
yield timber, though the cork-like material might serve for a 
light substitute for it. 
Natural regeneration appears to be very good. 
The fibre has not been exported in any quantity, but it 
is very tough, and. apparently very durable and of moderate 
length (average 3 feet). 
Native Use.—When dried the leaves are used for making 
mats for wrapping goods as well as for sleeping-mats. In the 
Benin and Jekri country, long (2 feet) thin receptacles are made 
which are used for salt, which is sold in these bags in the 
market. The bag keeps the salt dry. It is sometimes planted 
near villages in damp places for the purpose of obtaining the 
mat material locally, where it is not found naturally in the 
swamps. 
Humeriacee. 
Aubrya Gabunensis. Brass Mahogany-bark Tree. 
This is a very large forest tree of the Brass district, with 
a bark very similar to that of mahogany, but to which it bears 
no relationship. 
