THE NIGERIAN TIMBER TREES 367 
Lecythidacez. 
Napoleona Whitfieldii. Ito (? Yoruba); Uruhe (Benin). 
It is doubtful if these are the correct native names for 
this species. 
Napoleona imperialis. Speckle-fruited Napoleona. Boi Boi 
(Yoruba). 
It is found near Ode district, Oban and Igbeshe, in the 
Ibadan and Abeokuta provinces of Nigeria. 
It is a deciduous shrub with pretty white flowers, very 
shiny leaves, which are alternate, and bears a spherical, orange- 
coloured fruit (with a russet-like surface having white lenticels 
scattered nearly all over it), which ripens in March at the 
Olokemeji Reserve. 
This shrub protects and enriches the soil with its fall of 
leaves. Considering the attractiveness of the flower and the 
fruit, it is surprising that it has not more frequently been 
planted in gardens, where it should be placed in a shady 
corner. It is slow-growing, and does not need much light. 
It likes a moist, fairly deep, good soil, especially near a 
river bank. 
Native Use.—The stem is occasionally used for making hoe 
or axe handles, for which it is suitable, as the wood is com- 
paratively tough, close-grained and hard. The knottiness of 
it is an advantage either for the handle or for fixing the hoe 
or axe head. 
Napoleona Vogelii (Hook). Orokwa, Ogemme (Benin). 
It is a common tree in the Calabar, Benin, Ibadan and 
Abeokuta provinces of Nigeria. 
Chief Characteristics —It is a medium-sized shrub-like tree, 
with orange-shaped fruit, though not quite spherical, having 
small white lenticels on the surface and roughness like a russet 
apple. It does not attain a girth of more than 3 or 4 feet. 
It is usually found in the mixed deciduous forests, though 
‘more often in clearings in the forests ; however, it stands a good 
deal of shade. The wood is comparatively hard, but it does 
not reach much size. The tree protects and enriches the soil 
with its fall of leaves, and serves a very useful purpose as a 
shrub amongst the undergrowth of the forest. It might be 
planted in gardens, where both the flower, which is large and 
white, and the fruit would be admired. It usually bears a large 
number of both. It is rather a slow-growing tree. The natives 
use the wood for making matchet handles. 
Napoleona Owariensis. Adere, Isiurem (Lagos). 
Found in the Olokemeji Reserve. 
