155 



A series of tests with Mahogany and other woods from Lagos, 

 were made by the Admiralty at the Chatham Dockyard in 1897, 

 the results of which are published in the correspondence relating 

 to Botanical and Forestry Matters in West Africa, 1889-1901, 

 Colonial Office, p. 83. The specimens to which these tests related, 

 were transferred from the Museum of the Royal Botanic Gardens, 

 Kew, to the Imperial Institute in March, 1905. 



A sample of Lagos Mahogany in the Kew Museum has a 

 specific gravity *51, weight per cubic foot^ 31*5 lbs. ; Sapele 

 Mahogany, sp. gr. "61, weight per cubic foot 38*125 lbs. ; Benin 

 Mahogany, sp. gr. *516, weight per cubic foot 32*5 lbs. The 

 specific gravity was estimated by experiment and the weight per 

 cubic foot by calculation. A sample of " ogwango " examined 

 for the Imperial Institute weighed 32 lbs. per cubic foot {See Bull. 

 Imp. Inst. 1908, pp. 117 and 152, where the wood is reported on by 

 Mr. Herbert Stone, and a series of u mechanical " tests recorded, 

 as carried out by Professors Unwin and Dalby). 



A specimen of the wood of Gambia Mahogany in the Kew 

 Museum has a specific gravity of *7935, equivalent to an approxi- 

 mate weight per cubic foot of 49*5 lbs. ; this wood is without 

 doubt that of Khaya senegalensis ; it was sent to Kew by 

 Sir Gilbert Carter in 1890, with the herbarium specimens on 

 which the name was determined. In another sample of the wood 

 of Khaya senegalensis from the Gold Coast the specific gravity is 

 •4847, and the approximate weight per cubic foot, 30 lbs. (Mus. 

 Kew). 



The tree appears to be of little importance beyond its value for 

 timber. The gum has been used as a substitute or an adulterant 

 of the Gum Arabic of commerce, but it has little or no value. A 

 sample from Sierra Leone, submitted to Kew in 1890, was stated 

 to be of little strength, and a consignment would not be likely to 

 realize sufficient to cover freight and charges (Mus. Kew). 



The bark is bitter, and is used by the natives as a febrifuge. 



The tree is propagated by means of seeds. The natural and 

 artificial regeneration of this tree with other species of African 

 Mahogany mentioned, receives special attention by the Forestry 

 Department in all Forest Reserves {see p. 40), and the protection 

 of standing trees is provided for in the Forestry Proclamations 

 mentioned on pp. 45 and 46. 



Ref.— "Gambia Mahogany" in Kew Bull. 1890, pp. 168-170.— 

 "West African Mahogany," I.e. 1894, pp. 8-9.— " Ecorce de Cail 

 Cedra," in Les Drog. Simpl. d'origine vegetale, Planchon and 

 Collin, ii. pp. 668-670 (Octave Doin, Paris, 1896). — " Afrikanisches 

 Mahagoni " ineDer Tropenpflanzer i. 1897, pp. 317-318. — " Report 

 on the Mahogany found near the Ramos River in the Warri ami 

 Forcados Districts," Unwin, in Suppl. to S. Nigeria Gazette, 

 Dec. 11th, 1907, pp. 1-3. 



Pseudocedrela, Harms. 



Pseudrocedrela Kotschyi, Harms, in Bot. Jahrb. xxii. (1895), 

 p. 154. 



///.— Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin, V. 1909, f. 9. 



A tree, usually 20-30 ft. high, occasionally much taller. Leaves 

 paripinnate or imparipinnate, 1 ft. or more long ; leatk'ts 5-9 pairs, 



