The Southern region of Asia comprehends the two Indian peninsulas. Here non-tropical species disappear, or only present themselves very rarely. Tropical families become more numerous; the trees cease to lose their leaves; ligneous species are more numerous than 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 production of suitable timber for constructive purposes. Among the most abundant arborescent plants in this botanical region are _Bombax_, _Sapindus_, _Mimosa_, _Acacia_, _Cassia_, _Jambosa_, _Gardenia_; ebony (_Diospyros Ebenus_) has been celebrated for its black-colored solid wood from the most ancient times; _Bignonia_; teak (_Tectona grandis_), is a magnificent tree, which furnishes timber well adapted for building purposes from its great endurance; _Isonandra Gutta_ produces _gutta-percha_; laurels have an aromatic bark; the nutmeg-tree (_Myristica_) produces seeds which are employed as spice; figs (_Ficus religiosa_, _indica_, _elastica_); palms, such as the Borassus (_Borasus flabelliformis_) with magnificent large fan-like leaves; _Sagus_, whose soft pulp yields sago, a farinaceous product very rich in starch; _Calamus_, whose twining and creeping stem is sometimes upward of 500 feet in length, of one uniform thickness, and of which the canes used in Europe are made; areca (_Areca Catechu_), the nut of which is a favorite masticatory with the natives; _Corypha umbraculifera_, the trunk of which, sometimes reaching the height of sixty or seventy feet, is crowned with an ample tuft of leaves spread out in umbrella form, covering a space of eighteen feet; _Dracæna_; screw-pines (_Pandanus_); last, but not least, the bamboo.