334 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 
by the Benin people. It is, however, rather doubtful if it 
is really a different species from R. Rautenii. 
Native Use.—It is used in much the same way as the other 
two species. 
Uapaca Heudelottti. Mahogany. Yeye (Yoruba); Oyen (Benin) ; 
Tle (Bonny and New Calabar). 
It is found in the Owerri and Yoruba provinces of Nigeria. 
With its slightly curved trunk and large mass of widespreading 
aerial roots, extending almost to a quarter up the height of 
the tree, it is distinguishable from other trees of this zone. 
Usually found growing near water, or in regions that are flooded 
periodically. It sends out fresh red-coloured aerial roots. The 
leaves are somewhat shiny and give a greyish appearance in 
the distance. The bark is finely fissured and dark brown. 
Often covered with moss at the base. It attains a girth of 
about 10 feet and a bole length of about 25 feet. 
It is a somewhat slow-growing, shade-bearing tree. It 
protects the soil and enriches it with the fall of its leaves. 
Its mass of aerial roots tends to moderate the speed of the 
flooded river and holds the banks up, preventing corrosion, 
and in many cases tends to help the formation of higher and 
more solid banks, owing to the deposit of sand between and 
near the network of aerial roots. 
The timber is very similar to mahogany in grain, though 
a little harder. It has considerable elasticity. It is finely 
fibrous, and does not plane up with such a smooth finish, nor 
does it split well. It is termite-resisting and moderately 
tough. It saws with difficulty. The sapwood is stained with 
reddish colouring matter, and the heartwood is a dull red- 
brown. The pores in the timber are longer, and resemble 
mahogany in this respect ; though, being fibrous to the touch, 
the difference is shown. 
The timber has not been exported, nor has it been sawn 
up for local use. Occasionally it is used by the natives for 
house-building, and some of the crooked roots and branches 
are used as ribs for boats and building up canoes. 
Uapaca Guineensis (Much. and Arg.). False Mahogany. Abo 
Emido, also known as Yeye and Yere (Yoruba); Onye (Benin). 
Chief Characteristics.—Large aerial roots supporting the 
bole at a height of 8 to 10 feet from the ground. When 
cut, the slash is red; the sapwood is whitish, tinged with 
the red colouring matter of the heartwood, which is a 
dull red. 
Distribuiion.—Banks of the Ogun, Olokemeji Forest Reserve. 
In most respects the timber is similar to that of Heudelottii. 
