50 



Wood used for oars on river Casamance in Senegal ; infusion of 

 leaves employed as an eye-wash (Sebire, PI. Util. Senegal, p. 7). 

 Decoction of root said to be drunk in Lagos and also used 

 as lotion for swellings (Millen, Herb. Kew). This plant is said 

 to be an ingredient in " Agbo " a popular medicine in Lagos (see 

 under Xylopia aethiopica). 



Hexalobus, A. DC. 



Hexalobus senegalensis, A. DC; Fl. Trop. Afr. I. p. 27. 

 III.— Guillem. Perr. Rich. Fl. Senegamb. t. 2 ; Engl. Monogr. 

 Afr. Pflan. Anonac. t. 20, f.B {Hexalobus monopetalus, Engl.). 



Nupe. 



The roots, stem and leaves, used in Senegal as expectorants, and 

 for the cure of diarrhoea (Sebire, PI. Util. Senegal, p. 7 ; Uvaria 

 monopetala, Guill. et Perr.). 



Xylopia, Linn. 



Xylopia aethiopica, A. Rich. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. I. p. 30. 



III. — Engl. Monogr. Afr. Pflan. Anonac. t. 21. 



Vernac names, — Eru (Lagos, Dawodu) ; Chufani (Nupe, 

 Dalziel) ; Kimba (Hausa, Dalziel) ; Sabongo, Cabella (Angola, 

 Welwitsch) ; Ogano, Okola (Congo, De Wildeman) ; African 

 Pepper. 



Lagos ; Old Calabar ; Eppah, Niger. 



The black quill-like, aromatic and pungent fruits are used as a 

 condiment, and in medicine as a stimulant ; commonly sold in the 

 native markets (Mus. Kew). The fruits according to De Roche- 

 brune, contain an essential oil, a resin and a new alkaloid 

 " Anonaceine," which crystallizes in well-formed prisms. The 

 volatile oil is described as possessing an agreeable, aromatic, 

 cinnamon-like odour and taste, occurring in the bark, leaves and 

 bast as well as in the fruit (Pharm. Journ. [4] xiii. p. 640). In 

 France the fruits have been used with success for bronchitis, 

 gonorrhoea, and other mucous discharges (Pharm. Journ. [3] 

 xvii. p. 328). 



The plant appears to be the chief ingredient of " Agbo " a 

 decoction of leaves and roots, used in Lagos as a medicine for 

 children. Specimens of plants used in the preparation of this 

 medicine were sent (1901) to Kew for determination : no plants 

 containing any poisonous principle were identified ; the most 

 important from a medicinal point of view were Xylopia aethiopica. 

 — a stimulant ; Uvaria Chamae — a purgative ; Waltheria ameri- 

 cana — a febrifuge ; and Vernonia cinerea — also a febrifuge. It 

 is difficult to understand the principles underlying its application, 

 since the composition varies in different towns, and with different 

 tribes, and also according to the complaint for which some 

 particular plant of the mixture is considered a specific remedy 

 (Dawodu, Report to Governor of Lagos, 21st April, 1901). 



A special Commission appointed to inquire into the infantile 

 mortality in Lagos, regarded the indiscriminate use of Agbo as one 

 very direct and serious cause, although they considered it to be 



