OIL BEANS, SEEDS AND NUTS 459 
Apocynacee.—Although the seeds of Funtumia elastica yield 
oil, it was not favourably reported on. Perhaps now, with the greater 
value of all the oil seeds, some use could be made of it. 
Ebenacez, Diospyros Barteri.—This yields the Ebony nut, which 
is small, but edible. The Benin natives are very fond of it. It has 
not been exported. 
Diospyros crassiflora or Diospyros dendo have a fruit about the 
size of a large green plum, which contains four long, thin, almond-like 
nuts, which have rather a bitter taste. Although evidently oil-bearing, 
they have not been properly examined or tested as to the exact 
content of oil or other products. 
Rosacez.—Although the Chrysobalamus sp., or Niko nut, is com- 
paratively well known, it is by no means fully utilized. Then there 
is Parinarium Gabunense, yielding the Mahogany nut, of uncertain 
value. 
Anacardiaceez.—The Anacardium occidentale, yielding the Cashew 
nut, is so far only utilized near Lagos, where it is growing as a garden 
escape. No proper plantations have yet been made of this tree. 
Amongst the Palma, besides the Oil Palm, we have the Bottle 
Toddy or Fan Palm, Borassus flabellifer, yielding three or four nuts 
in each fruit. These are oil containing, but of unknown value. 
Considering the large areas in all the West African Colonies where 
the Fan Palm is found, some use should be made of the large number 
of nuts produced. 
Then we have Hyphene, the Doum Palm, which yields a nut 
used for making buttons. Here, again, the large quantities which 
are found in Africa ensure a steady amount of produce being 
placed on the market, provided a remunerative price is always paid 
for the nuts. Finally there is Phenix dactylifera, the Date Palm. 
Although this is more of a fruit than a nut, it is included here, as it 
is found in the forest groves of the North. Considering the value 
of its produce and the constant demand there is for it, a wide extension 
of its area of cultivation is to be recommended. 
Ochnacex, Lophira alata.—This is the dwarf Red Ironwood tree, 
which yields the ‘“‘ Niam” fat or “Meni” oil. The fruit is roughly 
conical, consisting of a reddish-brown fibrous shell, enclosing one 
kernel. The kernel is conical in shape, and about five-eighths of an 
inch in width. The inside is a pale-yellow colour. The fruit has 
two uneven-sized wings, the larger being over an inch in length and 
nearly half an inch in width. According to the Imperial Institute + 
the fat is semi-solid and of a yellowish colour. The kernel contains 
31:1 to 43 per cent. of fat. The fat is suitable for soap-making. 
According to the analysis of the Imperial Institute the results 
were as follows: For soap-making it is considered to be of the same 
1 Official Report, 88, Oil Seeds, Fats and Waxes, Imperial Institute, 1914. 
