THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 319 
to the size of the tree, but this is more in the case of very 
quickly grown trees. It sometimes shows very rich figure 
of a “‘roey” nature as well as “ fiddleback,” more especially 
in the root buttresses. Here, owing to the storms to which 
the tree is exposed, the fibres of these buttresses become frac- 
tured and compressed, thus giving a broken and mottled appear- 
ance to the grain after it has been cut up lengthways. In this 
species the wood of the “curls’’ often shows a rather bolder 
roe than in the case of those obtained from K. Punchii or 
Ivoriensis. 
On the whole this is the most quickly growing of all the 
Khayas. In its youth it stands a certain amount of shade, 
and, in fact, always, but it would appear to demand a good 
deal of light for its full and quick development. It is a 
thoroughly soil-protecting and soil-improving tree. The leaves 
make a rich humus. Natural regeneration is good, and, in fact, 
appears to be much better than in the case of the other Khayas. 
It sprouts from the stump a little. It appears to be somewhat 
exacting as to soil, preferring somewhat deep, rich.and moist 
sites. In plantations it has already found a place. It has 
also been planted, mixed with other species of Khaya, in the 
small nurseries, plantations and lines of trees made by the 
timber-lease holders. It does not seem to be attacked so 
severely by the leading-shoot borer as in the case of K. Punchii. 
Owing to the fact that the seeds usually fall on more open 
ground, it is not eaten so quickly by the little boring insects. 
The timber is being constantly exported and mixed up 
with the other species of Khaya. Being lighter, it floats 
higher on the water than the other species, more especially 
Entandrophragma,. It has occasionally been used by the natives 
for making canoes, as also for sawing up into planks. 
Khaya Punchii. Uhi Mahogany, Benin Mahogany. Oganwo 
(Yoruba); Ogwangu (Benin); Eggi (Ibo Asaba). 
This tree does not attain such a large size as either 
K. grandis or K. Ivoriensis, but it often exceeds a girth of 
12 feet and a bole length of 70 feet. The bottom log of a tree 
is often found to show figured wood. This is perhaps owing 
to the bark being constantly removed, and to thé succeeding 
occlusion of the wounds following at different times, according 
to when the bark is removed. 
Chief Characteristics.—It has a comparatively small leaf, 
with five or six pairs of leaflets. It has slight root spurns, 
or protuberances, or even in some cases none at all. It is 
generally particularly rough at the base, owing to the bark 
having been continually removed by the local people. Higher 
