=The Flowers=, the most distinguishing feature of the species, are in pendulous catkins, shaped like large acorns. Those above (next the stalk) are functionless, except for attracting insects by their scent, and consist of 10 long, mauve filaments. Those below (at the tip) are yellow and consist of a pistil surrounded by 10 stamens. The whole flower-spike is 2 inches long with a 1½ inch stalk. They first appear in February and blossom for several months onwards. =The Fruits= are bunches of small, brown pods which are so twisted and contorted as to assume fantastic bundles with alternate concave and convex surfaces outwards, each section the reverse of the next. They hold about four small, flat, black seeds, pointed at one end. The pods are very persistent and remain on the tree for several months. They fall without splitting. =Uses.=—The stems are made into a good quality bow, very commonly seen, and also into sticks. [Illustration] =DIOSPYROS MESPILIFORMIS= Hochst.—_Kainya, Kaiwa_. “_Ebony_.” EBENACEAE. This species, though typically inhabiting the banks of streams and the depths of “kurmis,” is quite commonly found in dry situations, where it attains large dimensions. It is the same species as is found in abundance in the south, but while there it yields a fair proportion of black heartwood, in the north there is but a pencil or none at all. The form varies greatly according to locality. On stream banks in the savannahs, the foliage extends, as a rule, down to ground level, or near it. In the “kurmis” great, tall, tapering stems, cylindrical or, in some cases, apparently built up of a number of stems which have joined and formed a fluted column, or, in other cases, of a number of separate stems forming a huge crown, are the types. In some cases, _e.g._, north-east of Sokoto Province, a number of large trees occur in the middle of farm land on light sandy soil. These may reach a height of over 60 feet and a girth of over 10 feet. =The Bark= distinguishes the tree from all others. It is almost black, and the scales are small, regular, even-sized and rectangular. That of very young trees is green or grey and quite smooth. The slash is salmon pink with darker flecks. =The Wood= of the northern examples rarely contains any black wood. The heartwood is a mixture of shades of pink, grey and green, the predominant colour being light red. In transverse section the rings are faint waved dark lines, close together; the pores are small, open, evenly scattered, mostly single, with some small chains in the line of the extremely fine and close rays. The rays show as small red bands in radial section. The grain is close, not very straight and the wood seasons well and is hard and durable. Damage from fires to young trees often extends many feet up the stem. It works fairly well with tools but will not take nails well. The planed surface is smooth and will take a polish. The weight is 48 lbs. a cubic foot.