The Flowers appear from January to April and even in May in the extreme north, on small, 2-3 inch long, erect spikes on the leafless twigs. They are slightly scented. Each has 4 small red sepals, 4 petals recurved, green with red tips, 16 yellow stamens and a red pistil. Each flower is in the axil of a small, red bract.
The Fruits ripen from April to June and are light yellow or pale green plums 1½ inches in diameter, with a tough skin and a juicy, mucilaginous flesh which is with difficulty separated from the rough stone.
Uses.—The wood is greatly in demand for mortars. The fruit is eaten fresh but its amenability is increased by stewing, the flesh being full of fibres attached to the stone.
SECURIDACA LONGIPEDUNCULATA Fres.—Uwar magunguna, Sainya. POLYGALACEAE.
This common shrub or small tree is very familiar in open bush and scrub country, growing in the driest localities up to the extreme north of the country. As generally met with it is a small, erect and delicate shrub, some 12-15 feet high, but trees up to 25 or 30 feet are not uncommon, especially in Sokoto province, where a girth of 3 feet is attained. It is readily distinguished by its flowers and by its seeds, and the slender, erect branches are distinctive. It is common amongst the broken rocks of the Bauchi Plateau.
The Bark is fairly smooth and light brown, yellowish or grey, with very small dark-coloured scales at certain times. The slash is yellow.
The Wood is light yellow in colour and the annual rings are very distinctively marked in dark brown, the dry wood parting at these rings into a series of concentric cylinders. Weight 55 lbs. a cubic foot.
The Leaves are small and elliptical in shape, about 2½ inches or less in length, and under ½ inch wide. They are a light grey-green on both surfaces and are set spirally round the long twigs, erect and nearly parallel with the twig.