the seeds, amount of parenchyma in the wood, and habits of growth, are cited and 
used by forest officers in Africa, To a considerable extent, however, the differ- 
entiations recognized appear to result from the conditions under which the trees 
grow (5, 9, 46, 48). 
Lophira alata Banks is generally described as the smaller form, attaining a 
height of 20 to 50 feet and a girth of 5 feet. It has steeply ascending branches 
and a narrow crown. It may be gnarled and crooked, is slow growing, and super- 
ficially resembles an oak tree. It is found in the open savannah, orchard, or 
dry- zone areas and is resistant to the annual grass fires (5, 10, 45 ; 48) . 
On the other hand, Lophira procera and L . alata var. procera trees (24, 56) are 
among the largest and most characteristic trees in the moist, evergreen rain 
forests. They grow on the sea coast at the inner edge of the mangrove forests 
(48), in freshwater swamps, and along rivers at elevations of a few hundred feet 
(5, 48) . They may have heavy crowns and clear cylindrical boles without marked 
buttresses, although they may be somewhat enlarged (up to 12 feet) at the base 
(5, 35). 
These trees may attain a height of loO feet and girths of 15 to 20 feet at breast 
height, or up to 6 feet in diameter. They often have long boles free of 
branches (2) . 
Strong shoots often develop from stumps. Lophiras have been favored for planting 
(45). 
Leaves 
The leaves, when they first appear, are brilliant red. They may grow to a foot 
in length and are almost tongue-shaped (5, 43) - 
Bark 
The bark is gray to orange-red, turning to ash-gray or black. It is thick, corky, 
and deeply fissured. The "slash" is red with a yellow edge (5, 10, 48) . 
Fruit and Flowers 
The flowers are white or yellowish and have five petals . They have a musk-like 
fragrance and are much more conspicuous in L . alata than in L. procera (2, 48) . 
The fruit is winged in both species. One wing is twice as long as and broader 
than the other in L. procera . In L. alata , one wing is nearly three times as 
wide as the other. 
The. fruit and seeds contain 50 to 40 percent of a semisolid yellow fat (Huile de 
Mene) that is used in treating leprosy (2, 5, 9, 50, 51). 
Report No. R1915 -2- 
