THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 347 
It is found in the Abeokuta, Ibadan, Ogoja and Benin 
provinces of Nigeria, in the mixed forests, where it is not very 
common. 
Chief Characteristics—Compared to Bombax reflexum it 
has a smaller leaf, smaller thorns, but not so many on the stem. 
It has a similar red flower, opening, however, much more 
widely. It reaches about the same size as the Bombax. 
The timber appears to be very similar in most ways to 
B. reflexum. It has not been felled for export, nor has it been 
used for planks for local use. Occasionally the leaves are 
used for medicinal purposes. 
There appears to be some doubt as to whether this is really 
a separate species from that of B. reflerum. It is, however, 
sufficiently different to be considered quite a distinct variety, 
though perhaps not actually a different species. 
Adansonia digitata. Monkey Bread, Baobab. Ose (Yoruba) ; 
Usi (Benin). 
It is a moderately common tree in the Onitsha and Abeo- 
kuta provinces of Nigeria. Isolated specimens are also found 
elsewhere. The most typical feature of this tree is the huge 
thick trunk, tapering up into the branches, out of all proportion 
to the length of these and the twigs. These are much thicker 
than the branches and twigs of other trees. The green, 
elongated spherical-shaped fruits hang by a stalk, giving the 
tree the appearance of one decorated for a Christmas festival. 
The leaves are truly digitate and not unlike those of the cotton- 
tree, though they are thicker and darker in colour. The bark 
is very thick, spongy and fibrous, and of a light-grey colour. 
The bark, seeds and roots are used medicinally. The fruit 
is eaten in time of scarcity. 
The fibre is used in England for paper-making. 
Sterculiacee. 
Sterculia Rhinopetala. False Chestnut. Ekko Okpon, Orodu or 
Orodo (Yoruba); Enwiwan (Benin); Otutu (Jebu); Awraw 
(Egbado). 
It has a smooth, light-green bark, which remains soft, but 
is whitish with age. The wood is white and soft, and appar- 
ently there is no difference in the heartwood. It has a small 
seed with a wing on each side of it. For external work it is 
not durable, but when seasoned for internal fittings, such as 
doors or ceilings, it is more useful. 
It is common in the Oyo, Benin, Calabar and Abeokuta 
provinces. It is found in the mixed deciduous forests, espe- 
cially in the Mamu and Ilaro Forest Reserves. Also, wherever 
