86 



The method of preparation in Senegal is first to chop away the 

 rough outer bark, strip off the inner bark in large sheets, 

 thoroughly beat this to remove the pithy matter, dry the cleaned 

 fibre in the sun, and press into bales (Spon's Encycl. p. 912). 

 Welwitsch describes a somewhat similar method in Angola 

 (Cat. Welw. Afr. PL i. p. 79). 



The bark, medicinally, is an antiperiodic, and is regarded as a 

 useful substitute for quinine. An ounce may be boiled in a pint 

 to a pint and a half of water, and the whole taken in the course 

 of a day (Diet. Econ. Prod. Ind.). The natives of the Umnyati 

 River, S. Africa, use the bark like quinine in cases of fever 

 (Baines, Mus. Kew). The leaves, powdered, are used as a condi- 

 ment in soups and sauces, &c. (Barter, Mus. Kew). Medicinally 

 they are astringent and prophylactic against fevers. A sample 

 of the leaves from Sierra Leone has been examined at the 

 Imperial Institute, and found to contain sodium chloride, potas- 

 sium acid tartrate and tannin, to which constituents the medicinal 

 value is doubtless due (Bull. Imp. Inst. 1906, p. 252). 



The mucilaginous pulp of the fruit has a pleasant, somewhat 

 acid taste, and makes a cooling drink in cases of fever. According 

 to Heckel and Schlagdenhauffen it is successfully used by the 

 natives as a remedy for dysentery, containing 12 per cent, of 

 potassium bitartrate, and 2 per cent, of free tartaric acid, besides 

 tannin, gum, mucilage, and glucose (Year Book, Pharm. 1889, 

 p. 1G9). The pulp has also been examined at the Imperial Insti- 

 tute with a like result (Bull. Imp. Inst. 19U6, p. 252). Various 

 other medicinal uses in India and Africa are attributed to the 

 fruit, including the seeds, which are stated to contain albuminous 

 matter associated with 38 per cent, of fat (Year Book, Pharm. I.e.). 

 The dried fruits are used for various domestic purposes, floats for 

 fishing nets (Watt), pipes (Welwitsch), and water bottles (Baines). 



The wood is light, soft, and porous, used like cork (De Wilde- 

 man), for canoes (Pobeguin), and provision boxes (Welwitsch). 



Ref. — " Notice sur le Baobab," in La Belgique Horticole, ix. 1859, 

 pp. 75-82.— Diet. Econ. Prod. Ind. i. 1889, pp. 105-107.— " Baobab 

 ou Adansonia digitata," De Wildeman, in PI. Util. du Congo, 

 Art. xiii. pp. 156-163. — " A propos da Baobab," I.e. Art. xxiii. 

 pp. 298-301.— " L'huile de Baobab," I.e. Art. xxxii. pp. 561-563.— 

 " Etude sur la graine du Baobab," in L'Agric. pratique des pays 

 chauds. iii. 1903-01, pp. 658-662.— " Leaves and Fruit of the 

 Baobab Tree" (medicinal value) in Bull. Imp. Inst. 1906, p. 252. 



Bombax, Linn. 



Bombax buonopozense, Beauv. ; El. Trop. Afr. I. p. 213. 



A deciduous tree, about 40 feet high. Leaflets obovate, abruptly 

 acuminate. Calyx almost glabrous outside. Petals 2-2£ inches 

 long. Stigmas diverging, not reflexed except at the apex. 



111.— Pal. de Beauv. El. Ow. Ben. ii. t. 83, f. 1. 



Vernan. names. — Eso, Pompola (Yoruba, Millson) ; Gurijia 

 (Kontagora, Dalziel). — Silk Cotton Tree. 



Yoruba ; Kontagora ; Nupe ; Borgu. 



