not grow, however, above the 2,500-foot contour line where conditions grade 
into the highland-forest type. It occurs in rich, moist soil on the borders 
of streams and the margins of meadows, swamps, and lakes (22). 
The Tree 
Size and Form 
Avodire is a medium-sized tree in comparison to the giants of West Africa. It 
may reach 60 to 100 feet in height but attains 90 feet or more only urn 
favorable conditions (1, :?). It often has a diameter at the base of 3 to h 
feet, even up to 5 feet. Generally, the tree is of poor habit of growth. The 
trees do not develop very clear or straight trunks, which re in consider- 
able waste in logging (22). The utilizable part of the bole is usually from 
2^ to 50 feet in length" rarely more than 65 feet (7). Therefore, a large per- 
centage of the wood has to be rejected in the forest as unfit for export. A 
small percentage of the choicest material yields figured wood suitable for fine 
veneer (6). The stems very often divide into wide spreading branches and form 
large crowns (22). Dr. V'elwitch is quoted (22) as describing Turraeanthus 
africana as "an immense, handsome tree" in his monograph on the flora of 
tropical Africa. 
The bark is ash-colored, tinged with red, and stands out in contrast with the 
very dark, glossy green of the foliage (22). The bark is said to have toxic 
properties (1). It peels off in thin strips, the inner portion being creamy 
ye 11 oat and possessing a very characteristic aromatic odor (29). In order to 
prevent fungus damage, it is necessary to remove the bark to help the wood dry 
out promptly; consequently, the logs entering the market are invariably free oi 
bark (6). 
Leave j 
The compound leaves are large (2 feet or more in length), and are composed of 
h to 12 pairs of alternate, oblong leaflets, h to 6 inches long, about 1-1/2 
inches wide, and rounded at the apex. The leaflets are smooth, shiny, and 
leathery. The midrib is very prominent on the upper surface and has many fine 
lateral nerves. The leaf buds, young petioles, and flower stalks are covered 
with a fine, rusty pubescence (29). The leaves are crowded at the ends of 
the branches and thus give the tree an unusual appearance (22). 
Flowers and Fruit 
The white to creamy-yellow flowers are in clusters in the axils of the leaves 
and form very conspicuous panicles that have numerous flowers. The flowers 
differ very little from those of mahogany. They may be found nearly all the 
Rept. No. R1905 
