THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 339 
as it is said to form tartar on the teeth. Amongst the Yorubas, 
parts of the roots and branches are used for axe and hoe 
handles. 
Spondias sp. Ekika Aja (Yoruba). 
This tree may be the same as Pseudospondias microcarpa, 
but it has only been determined from a specimen obtained 
from the Oshun Reserve. This is somewhat further south 
and in a moister region than the Pseudospondias microcarpa. 
Pseudospondias microcarpa. Okika (Yoruba). 
It is a somewhat rare tree in the Abeokuta and Ibadan 
provinces of Nigeria. Apparently there is a small-fruited 
tree of this species in the Olokemeji Reserve. The tree itself 
attains a larger size than S. lutea, reaching a girth of 8 feet 
and a bole of 20 feet. The growth is less free and the bark 
is much darker and more fissured than S. lutea. It has not 
been felled for export; the natives have no particular use 
either for the wood or the fruit. 
Anacardium Occidentale. Non-indigenous Cashew Nut. Kaju 
(Yoruba). 
This tree has become a garden escape on the Ekoi plains 
near Lagos, where it forms dense thickets. It is not indi- 
genous to West Africa. The tree bears well, and the Brazilians 
resident in Lagos make a jam out of the fruit. The nuts are 
roasted and regularly sold in the market, to Europeans chiefly. 
The branches of the tree are sometimes lopped off and cut 
into short pieces for firewood. It is usually of very sprawling 
habit, with a short bole only 3 or 4 feet long. It is not found 
in the forest proper. 
Botanical name unknown. Blacksmith’s Charcoal Wood. Akkun 
(Yoruba) ; Azimommon, Onyenu (Benin). 
It is found in the Benin and Abeokuta provinces of Nigeria, 
Obagie Reserve and Oyon River. 
It is a large tree, with large leaves and compact crown. 
It has a very small, berry-like fruit ; found growing on moist 
soil in the evergreen forest, sometimes found in the fringing 
forest of river banks of a dry zone. 
Timber.—The timber is very hard, grey in colour and perhaps 
flexible. The bark is rough and finely fissured. It is inclined 
to peel off. The slash is pink. The wood is very fibrous, and 
in the cross-cut section the pieces between the fibres look 
like very small pinholes. The wood when freshly cut has 
a sweet, rather pleasant smell. 
European Use.—It has not, so far, been sold for export 
or local use. 
Native Use.—The stems of the small trees are used for axe- 
