145 



Phanerog. i. t. 6, f . 9 ; Mart. Fl. Bras. xi. pt. 1, t. 50 ; Belgique 

 Hortic. 1880, t. 9 (var floribunda) ; Vidal, Fl. For. Filip. t. 29e ; 

 Engl. & Prantl, Pflan. iii. pt. 4, f. 160A-L. 



Vernac. names. — Ekc-Oyibo (Oloke-Meji, Dodd) ; Eke-Oyinbo 

 (Lagos, Dawodu) ; Kurna-na-sara (Kontagora, DalzieD. — Persian 

 Lilac ; Bead Tree ; West Indian Bead Tree ; Pride of India ; 

 China Berry ; Bastard Cedar ; Tree of Paradise. 



Oloke Meji ; Kontagora ; Yoruba. Widely distributed in 

 Tropical Africa and commonly cultivated in many other tropical 

 and sub-tropical countries. 



All parts of the plant appear to be used for various medicinal 

 purposes (India, America, &c). The leaves and flowers applied 

 as a poultice are used in India to relieve nervous headaches ; and 

 the juice of the leaves as an anthelmintic, antilithic, diuretic, and 

 emmenagogue (Diet. Econ. Prod. Ind.). The root bark, which is 

 very bitter, is used in America as a cathartic and emetic (Goodale, 

 Mus. Kew), and the stem bark possesses anthelmintic, stimulant, 

 antispasmodic and tonic properties (Mus. Kew). The fruit is 

 poisonous and the bark and leaves are also said to possess toxic 

 properties. Loudon states that the fruit is poisonous in a high 

 degree, and mixed with grease will kill dogs (Encycl. PI. p. 352). 

 The stones are sometimes used for making rosaries and necklaces. 

 Royle states that the seeds are emetic, laxative and anthelmintic 

 (111. Bot. Himal. p. 144). The kernels yield an oil described as 

 similar to that of the Neem or Margosa (Melia Azadirachta) — 

 fixed, acrid, bitter, deep yellow, and of a strong disagreeable 

 flavour, used in India as an anthelmintic and antiseptic, also for 

 burning in lamps, but said to smoke offensively (Diet. Econ. Prod. 

 Ind.). The tree yields a brown adhesive gum, but this, as also 

 the oil, is not considered important (Watt, Comm. Prod. India, 

 p. 781). The oil has been examined by Fendler, who gives the 

 specific weight as 0*9253 at 15° C. ; Fusion point — 3° C. ; Solidifica- 

 tion point 12° C. ; Fusion point of the acid fat 22° C. ; Solidification 

 point of acid fat 19° C. (De Wildeman, PI. Util. Congo, Art. xxx. 

 p. 487). 



The wood is recorded by Hough as weighing 38 lbs. to 40 lbs. 

 per cubic foot (iVmerican Woods, v. No. 105), by Gamble 35-3S- 

 40 lbs. per cubic foot (Man. Ind. Timb., p. 145) ; a good cabinet 

 wood not unlike teak (Dalziel, Bull. Imp. Inst. 1907, p. 261). It 

 is used for furniture, and takes a good polish (Mus. Kew) ; 

 apparently little used in America, although described as very 

 appropriate for nice furniture, and similar in properties to 

 mahogany (Hough, I.e.) ; used with success at the Imperial Forest 

 School, Dehra Dun, India, for museum cases and other furniture 

 (Camble, I.e.). In Oloke-Meji the wood is used for roofing houses 

 (Dodd, Herb. Kew). 



Under cultivation the seeds germinate freely, and the plants 

 grow rapidly. The very ornamental appearance of the tree for 

 avenues, &c, is regarded by many as the foundation of its real 

 value. In India, where it is commonly cultivated, it is met with 

 up to an altitude of 0,000 feet (Watt, Comm. Prod. India, p. 781). 

 In Kontagora it is common in native compounds ; flowers in 



33385 K 



