860 WEST AFRICAN FORESTS AND FORESTRY 
It is a medium-sized tree with close, spherical-shaped crown. 
The branches and leaves are comparatively small. The bole 
is short and the branches very persistent. The most typical 
feature of the tree is the large apricot-like fruit, of an orange- 
yellow colour. The bark is smooth and brown in colour. It 
is found in the evergreen forest. The nut is oblong, of a very 
dark brown colour with small white streaks all over it. It 
grows in moist soil. 
The timber is very hard and close-grained, with yellow 
sapwood and light-brown heartwood. It is said to be durable 
and planes with a smooth surface. It is often found at a con- 
siderable elevation—up to 3,000 feet towards the northern part 
of Calabar province. 
It is a shade-bearer, though it is often found growing alone, 
having been left isolated when the original forest was cleared 
to make a farm. The tree grows very slowly but bears com- 
paratively early, and trees are often seen quite laden with the 
yellow fruit. 
The timber has not been exported, but has been cut for 
local use. It was used by the Public Works Department, 
Calabar, and proved useful for wall-plates. The nuts have 
occasionally been exported, but they are comparatively valueless 
compared to the real Cola. 
Native Use.—-The nuts are sold in the Yoruba and Calabar 
markets and 100 to 200 for 3d. in the Benin market. The 
fruit is also eaten. The roots are used for chewing-sticks (the 
best in Benin), and taste like quinine. The nuts are ground 
and used medicinally for headache. 
Garcinia Kola. 
A little known. species, found in the Eastern Provinces, 
Uwet. It was subsequently determined as Garcinia conrauana. 
Garcinia Mannii. 
This tree is found in the Western Provinces. 
Uses.—Chew-stick is made from the root. 
Garcinia, var. nov. brevipedicellata. 
This tree grows in the Eastern Circle. 
Pentadesma sp.?. Hardwood, Duika’s Chop Fruit. Ogbia (Yoruba) ; 
Ekuso or Ikujo, Efiari (Benin). 
This tree is found in the mixed forests of the Benin province 
of Nigeria. One of its chief characteristics is that it has little 
or no bark, but the cortex is comparatively thin, and reniains 
of a duck-egg-green colour even in trees of comparatively large 
size. It reaches a girth of about 6 feet and a bole length of 
about 20 feet. However, it is usually very much forked com- 
paratively low down, and often the stem is by no means straight. 
