162 



Some experiments on the wood from Ceylon made by Prof. 

 Unwin for the Imperial Institute, gave the following results : — 

 Weight per cubic foot 48*87 lbs ; resistance to shearing along the 

 fibres 1013*4 lbs. per sq. inch ; crushing stress 2*778 tons per 

 sq. inch ; coefficient of transverse strength 3*479 tons per sq. inch ; 

 Coefficient of elasticity 426*7 tons per sq. inch. (Tech. Rep. & Sci. 

 Papers, Imp. Inst. pp. 249, 259, 260, 262, and Circ. No. 20, ii. 1904, 

 p .331, Roy. Bot. Gdn. Ceylon). According to Beddome the wood, 

 unseasoned, weighs 72-75 lbs. per cubic foot, and seasoned 58 lbs. 

 per cubic foot (Fl. Sylv. No. 149). 



The tree is easily propagated by seed, grows freely and quickly, 

 and succeeds in comparatively poor soil. It grows readily and 

 seems to delight in the most arid soil, requiring no particular 

 treatment (Bouton, Hook. Journ. Bot. i. p. 320). According to 

 Grant, hedges are made of the thorny branches in parts of Central 

 Africa (Trans. Linn. Soc. xxix. p. 47). In parts of West Africa it 

 is used for a similar purpose. Under cultivation the fruit is 

 much improved and there are several varieties, differing greatly 

 in the shape and size of the leaves as also in the size and nature of 

 the fruit. Of the fruits cultivated in Mauritius, Bouton (I.e.) has 

 distinguished between varieties with the flesh adhering or not 

 adhering to the nut, The variety Hysudricas is considered the 

 most remarkable, and this according to Aitchison is always raised 

 by grafting (Kew Bull. 1889, p. 23). Young plants are propagated 

 and sold regularly by the Botanical Department at Oloke-Meji. 



Ref. — " Observations on the different varieties of Zizyphus 

 Jujuba cultivated in the Mauritius," Bouton, in Hook. Journ. 

 Bot. i. 1834, pp. 319-322.—" Ilanthai," in Colonial Timbers, Tech. 

 Rep. & Sci. Papers, Imp. Inst. 1903, pp. 249, 259-262. 



Zizyphus mucronata, Willd. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. I. p. 380. 



III.— Guillem. Perr. Rich. Fl. Senegamb. t. 37 (Z. Baclei) ; 

 Wood, Natal PI. i. t. 47 ; Sim. For. Fl. Cape Col. t. 36, f. 1. 



Vernac. names. — Tomburong (Gambia, Daniell) ; Umpafa(Katir, 

 Sim) ; Buffalo Thorn (Cape, Pappe) ; Cut Thorn (Cape, Sim). 



Lagos ; Jebba ; Nupe ; Attah ; Bornu ; and throughout Tropical 

 Africa extending to the Cape. 



Fruit edible. It is believed to be the Lotus mentioned by 

 Mungo Park as being used for making into bread, which tastes 

 like ginger-bread, and also for the preparation of a pleasant 

 beverage (Z. Baclei in Treas. Botany). In S. Africa a paste made 

 of the leaves is applied to glandular swellings. A decoction of 

 the root is used in lumbago and taken internally for all scrofulous 

 diseases and for swollen glands of the neck (Smith, Contr. to 

 S. Afr. Mat. Med. pp. 88, 136). 



The wood is tough and used chiefly for wagon work (Pappe, 

 Silva Capensis, p. 12) ; very little used except for yoke-keys (Sim. 

 For. Fl. Cape Col. p. 178). 



The seeds are used by Musselmen to make rosaries (Barter, 

 Mus. Kew). 



In Cape Colony the plant is occasionally used for hedges, but 

 does not stand trimming well ; it requires deep alluvial soil 

 (Sim, I.e.). 



