boasts the largest variety of plants in China. Of the 30,000 kinds of higher plants found in China, over 18,000 are found in Yunnan, according for over 60% of China’s total. Thus it is rightfully called “the Kingdom of Plants”. Yunnan has a forest area of 143 million mu, covering 24.2% of its total territory, and doubling the average rate of China. Its total tree reserve is 1.37 billion cubic meters, ranking third in China. Forestry resources here boast unique characteristics: Firstly, abundant species. 800 kinds of trees are found here, including those found in the tropical, sub—tropical, temperate and frigid zones. Yunnan also has a variety of timber resources like Pinus yunnanensis, Pinus szemaoensis and dragon spruce, of which teak, Toona sureni, Black Rosewood, ferrous mesua and Chinese yew are precious ones. Altogether 59 species are under national protection. Besides, the Province has 200 bamboo species, covering an ares of 100,000 hectares. Secondly, Yunnan boasts abundant fast—growing species, such as Maiden eucalyptus, Anthocephalus, and Himalayan cypress. Thirdly, Yunnan possesses over 300 economic plant species. The production of tea, rubber, anise, pepper, tea—oil tree, tung tree, walnut, Chinese chestnut, orange, coffee and mango has increated gradually, among which tea and rubber industries have become two key ones. Fourthly, there are abundant forestry by—products ans specialities, among which rosin, gum, Dictyophora, mushroom, edible fungus and Matsuake are of high value.

Known as “the Treasure House of Medicinal Herbs” and “the Hometown of spice Plants”, Yunnan has more than 2000 kinds of medicinal herbs, Gastrodia, Blackseed Juniper, Captis teeta, Poria cocos and Cordyceps enjoy an excellent reputation. The tropical and sub—tropical zones are also Nanyao(tropical medicine)—producing areas, of which 31 kinds like Amomum villosum, Burmann Cinnamin, Long Pepper and Picrorrhiza scrophulariiflora have great prospects. Yunnan is the hometown of 1,250 endemic herbs, ranking first in China. The production of Lindera fragrans oil, Cymbopogon citrates oil and Ylang—ylang has greatly increased.

Yunnan also enjoys the fame of a “Natual Garden”. Of its 2,100 types of ornamental plants, over 1,500 are flowers; thus, it is called”the Kingdom of Flowers”. Camellia, azalea, Fairy Primrose, rough gentian, lily, magnolia, orchis and Meconopsis are the eight most famous of Yunnan. One hundred kinds of camellias are found in this province and there is a saying that Yunnan camellia is the best. Three hundred types of azalea are found in Yunnan. The rich flower and hundred types of zazlea worldwide attention. In the 19^th century, travelers from Europe and America came to Yunnan to collect seeds of famous flowers. They regarded it as” the Paradise of Horticulturists”. One of the westerners commented: “A garden without Yunnan flowers is not a trie garden”. Nowadays, the flowers industry has become one of its major export—oriented industries that bring foreigner income. In 1994, the output of Yunnan cut—flowers ranked first in China.