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CHAPTER VI. 



[Conclusion.] 



General recapitulation of all facts associated ivith the "Ficus elastica." 

 NATURAL ORDER, ARTOCARPACE/E-r^nrf). 



FIG TEIBE. 



"Ficus elastica." Vernacular — goTBoSu " Borde-bane." 



Description. — A large tree, with irregular-shaped stem, and spreading 

 branches, from which roots descend to the ground. The leaves 

 are thick, coriaceous, shining, elliptic, mid-rib very prominent, 

 with numberless straight parallel fine lateral veins, nearly at 

 right-angles to the mid-rib, blade 3 — 6 inches long, on seedlings 

 and root-shoots much larger, stipules long, sheathing rose- 

 coloured. Fruit ovoid, greenish yellow, the size of an olive. 

 Forest Flora of Western and Central India. D. Brandis. Natives 

 both of temperate and tropical climates : species 184: III Gen., — 

 Morus, Broussonetia, Madura, Ficus, Urostigma, Sycomorus, 

 Kaprificus, Dorstenia Tropins. — Balfour, p. 891. 



Distribution. — The Ficus elastica is found along the foot and in the low 

 tropical valleys of the Himalayas, from the Mechi river on the 

 Nepal boundary at 88° E. long., to the extreme eastern boundary 

 of Assam, 97° East long., as well as along the foot, and in the low 

 valleys of the southern mountains of the Brahmapootra valley, 

 viz., the Patkey mountains, the Naga, Khasi Jynteah, and 

 Garrow Hills. Although found so far west as the Nepal boundary, 

 it is not abundant until east of the Bor Nuddee (the western 

 boundary of the Dnrrung District), where it is common in the 

 forests at the foot of the hills in the Khaling Booree, Goma, 

 and Kooreeaparah Dooars, between the Bor Nuddee and Moora 

 Dhunseeree Nuddee, and has been exported from the forests which 

 extend over about forty square miles, as well as from the low 

 valleys of the Bhootan hills immediately above them, and especially 

 from the forests in the neighbourhood of the exit of the Noonae 

 Nuddee, in the Khaling Dooar, and adjoining hills, and those 

 between the Deemjany and the Bootah Nuddees. 

 In the Chardooar forest, between the Moora Dhunseeree or Bootah 

 Nuddee, and the Bhoratee river, they are abundant. The 

 Chardooar forests cover about two hundred and twenty square 

 miles. In these forests, between the Beelseeree and the Gobhoroo 



