273 



Lagos ; Oloke Meji ; Mamu Forests ; Nupe, and widely distributed 

 in tropical Africa. 



A useful tree for timber and shade. 



The wood is hard and durable. It is frequently exported to 

 Europe under the general trade name of African Mahogany ; largely 

 used in the Central Province, S. Nigeria, for making furniture 

 (Thompson, Col. Rep. Misc. No. 66, 1910, p. 88) ; used for building 

 purposes (I.e. No. 51, 1908, p. 25) ; for doors and mortars and by 

 the Railway Company in S. Nigeria (Thompson, List of For. Trees, 

 S. Nig. p. 6) ; used for cabinet work, turnery and naval con- 

 struction on the Congo (De Wildeman, PI. Util. Congo, Art. xxvi. 

 1904, p. 378). 



In Senegal the seed is used as a charm by the Natives, and the 

 arillus is said to be eaten by them and also by monkeys ; the burnt 

 pods give a fine ash rich in potash, used in the manufacture of a 

 native soap (De Wildeman, PL Util. Congo, ii. 1906, Art, i. p. 110). 



This tree reproduces itself freely from seed. It is generally found 

 in the open country on the Gold Coast (Thompson, Col. Rep. Misc. 

 No. 66^ 1910, p. 88) and the watersheds in the Western Province, 

 S. Nigeria ; excellent forests are found from the junction of the Oha 

 river with the Oyan to the town of Meko, especially on the highest 

 portion of the main plateau ; along the plateau to the S.E. of Jubata, 

 and in the Shaki District, in certain parts of which the trees are finely 

 developed, and the bulk of the timber appears to be figured and of 

 great value (Thompson, Rep. Meko and Shaki District, 1910, p. 6) ; 

 found as a large tree in Nupe (Barter Herb. Kew). Full grown trees 

 of " Kawo " are decorative features in towns and villages in Konta- 

 gora (Dalziel, Bull. Imp. Inst. 1907, p. 256, under A. quanzensis). 



Afzelia bracteata, Vogel ; Fl. Trop. Afr. II. p. 301. 

 III.— Hook. Ic. PI. tt. 790, 791 ; Hook. Niger Fl. tt, 34, 35; Prain, 

 Scient. Mem. Med. Off. India (1901) t, 12. 

 Vernac, name. — Ekpogoze (Benin, Unwiri). 

 Owan river, Cent. Province, S. Nigeria. 



Afzelia cuanzensis, Welw. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. II. p. 302, 



III.— Sim, For. Fl. and For. Res. Port, E. Afr. t. 45. 



Vernac. names. — Mwande (Barotzeland, Cockerell) Hlafuta or 

 Chaputa [(Ironga [Lorenzo Marques] Swazi) ; Iachenu, Insena, Sina 

 or Xina (Shengaan, M'Chopes, &c.) ; Musacosse or Momba periwede 

 (Echuabo) ; Mugoberere (Swahili) Sim] ; Mahogoni boom (Dutch 

 [Transvaal] MacOwari). Mahogany ; Rhodesian Mahogany. 



Tropical Africa. 



Wood of fine surface, inclined to be brown in the centre or pinkish 

 brown in old logs suitable for quartering, planking, boxes, &c, 

 though subject to borers ; weight 40 to 45 lbs. per cubic foot (Sim I.e. 

 pp. 115, 121). 



The seeds are used in this country for ornamental purposes— hat- 

 pins, necklaces, &c. (Mus. Kew). 



There are no specimens in the Kew Herbarium from Nigeria ; 

 though the tree has been found in Angola. It may be worth 

 cultivating for its valuable timber. 



Brachystegia, Benth. 

 Brachystegia spicaeformis, Benth. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. II. p. 306. 



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