532 . f THE VEGETABLE WORLD. 
vated plants in Central Asia. We see here, side by side, the Fig, 
the Vine, the Chestnut-tree, and the Pomegranate, the Almond 
and the Citroris. In China and Japan we find under cultivation 
the Sarracenia, Wheat, Barley, Oats, Potatoes, Asparagus, Melons, 
Peas and Beans, and, along with them, Rice (Arum esculentum) . 
and Indian Corn. We might here dwell upon a crowd of orna- 
mental plants, many of which are now well known in Europe, such 
as Glycine, the Lily of Japan, the Tiger Lily, the Chinese Primrose, 
and the Magnolia, which are native in Russian Asia, and well- 
known ornaments of our hothouses. 
The Southern region of Asia comprehends the Indian penin- 
sula. Here non-tropical species disappear, or only present them- 
selves very rarely. Tropical groups become more numerous; the 
trees cease to lose their leaves; ligneous vegetation is much 
greater than it is without the tropics ; the flowers are larger, more 
magnificent ; climbing creeping and parasitic plants increase in 
number and size. India may be considered the true country of 
aromatic plants. Nor is the rich soil less fruitful in the produc- 
tion of plants of another order. Trees producing suitable timber 
for constructive purposes are found there in perfection. 
Among the arborescent plants those most abundant in this 
botanical region are found to belong to the genera of Bombazx, 
Sapindus, ‘Mimosa, Acacia, Cassia, Jambosa, Gardenia. The 
Ebony-tree (Diospyrus ebenum) has been celebrated for its black 
coloured, solid wood from the most ancient times. The Bignonia 
(Tectona grandis) is a magnificent tree, which furnishes timber 
well adapted for building purposes from its great endurance. 
Isonandra gutta produces the substance analogous to caoutchoue, 
which is known as Gutta-percha. The Laurels have an aromatic 
bark. The Nutmeg-tree (Myristica) produces seeds which are 
employed as spice. The Figs (Ficus religiosa, Indica, elastica); 
Palms, such as the Borassus (Borassus flabelliformis), whose mag- 
nificent leaves extend in large fan-like panicles ; the Sagus, whose 
soft pulp yields sago, a farinaceous product very rich in amidon; 
the Calamus, whose twining and creeping stem is sometimes 
upwards of five hundred feet in length, and of one uniform thick- 
ness, and of which many canes used in Europe are made. The — . 
ies (Areca catechu), the nut of which is a favourite masticatory — a 
