POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS, DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF THE OIL BEAN TREE, PENTACLETHRA-MACROPHYLLA IN NIGERIA

Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth. is a hardwood forest tree species of A frica, with potential as an industrial source of vegetable oil. In the forest belt of Nigeria, the seeds are actively exploited by local pop ulations who process them into a variety of high-protein food suppleme nts. In the face of deforestation and over-exploitation for seed, an e numerative survey was carried out in the forest belt of Nigeria to det ermine the conservation status of the species. The populations are pre sently confined to the southeastern states of Abia, Anambra, Akwa Ibom , Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo and Rivers, an area representing 40% of its former range of distribution. On average, there are 38.34% more old trees than juveniles, and 42.81% more young trees than juven iles. The highest concentrations of trees of various age classes occur in the Igbo-speaking states, which relates population persistence wit h cultural affinity. Factors that limit domestication by local farmers are the tendency of the species to disperse its seeds by explosive sh attering of the pods, and the tall height attained at peak productive capacity.