167 



SCHMIDELIA, Linn. 



Schmidelia africana, DC. ; PL Trop. Afr. I. p. 421. 



III.— Pal. de Beauv. Fl. Ow. Ben. ii. t, 107 (Allophyhis 

 africanus) ; Rich. Tent. Fl. Abyss, t. 27 ; Sim, Fl. For. Cape Col. 

 t. 33, f. 4. 



Vernac. names. — Azamara ; Souaria (Fl. Trop. Afr. I.e.) ; Ije 

 eye (Lagos, Dawodu) ; Wo wo ? (Lagos, Phillips) ; Kakasemala 

 (Lagos, MacGregor) ; In-Qala (Kafir, Four cade, Sim). 



Lagos ; Abeokuta ; Lokoja ; Zungeru ; Guarara River ; and 

 many parts of tropical Africa. 



The fruits are used in Abyssinia as a remedy for tape-worm ; 

 the dried fruits are pounded, mixed with flour, and then made 

 into cakes (Moloney, For. W. Afr. p. 302). Used (part of plant 

 not stated) in Sierra Leone to relieve toothache and headache 

 (Holmes, Mus. Rep. Pharm. Soc. 1895, p. 88). 



The wood is described as very strong and close grained ; weight 

 per cubic foot 46*8 lbs. (Sim, For. Fl. Cape Col. p. 170). 



The tree is found on the banks of the Guarara River, in forests 

 near Lokoja, common on the banks of the Dago River, Zungeru 

 (Elliot, Herb. Kew), and by streams Zungeru (Da]ziel, Herb. 

 Kew). 



Blighia, Koenig. 



Blighia sapida, Koenig ; Fl. Trop. Afr. I. p. 426. 



Ill— Koniga Sims, Ann. Bot. ii., 1806, tt, 16-17. Tuss. Ant. i. t. 

 3 (Akeesia africana) ; Lodd. Bot. Cab. t. 1484 ; Desc. Ant. viii. t. 

 560 {Akeesia africana). 



Vernac. names. — Ishin (Lagos, Dawodu) ; Ishiri Jeje (Lagos, 

 Williams) : Ukpe Lorphua (S. Nigeria, TJnwiri) ; Ukpi Nufwa 

 (Benin, Thompson^ Unwiri) ; Okwikwiro (Ibo, Thom]jso?i).— Akee 

 Apple. 



Native of West Africa ; distributed to the West Indies, abundant 

 in Jamaica. 



The flowers are fragrant and the distilled water of the flowers is 

 used as a cosmetic by the Creole ladies in the Antilles (Desc 

 Ant. viii. p. 157). 



The white or creamy-white arillus in which the seeds are set is 

 edible and when cooked affords a very palatable food ; salt fish 

 and Akees form one of the most common breakfast dishes among 

 all classes in Jamaica (Agric. News, Barbados, 1905, p. 359). Cases 

 of poisoning by eating Akee apple are occasionally reported. 



The wholesomeness of the Akee as an article of food has been 

 examined by Mr. J. J. Bowrey, F.C.S., F.I.C., Analytical Chemist 

 to the Government of Jamaica. He found that : — 



" 1. Unripe Akees if eaten freely bring on vomiting. 2. Decay- 

 ing Akees are decidedly unwholesome, and may be even very 

 poisonous. This is true of many foods. 3. Fresh ripe Akees are 

 good and harmless food, rather rich it is true, but to most persons 

 quite wholesome. There may be individual idiosyncrasies 

 with regard to Akee, as there are to such usually harmless foods 

 as mutton, duck, pork, mushrooms, &c. 4. The red membrane of 

 the Akee, so commonly believed to be poisonous is perfectly 



