Malesia

Abstract

The phytogeographic region known as Malesia lies north and south of the equatorial line for over one-fifth of the world’s circumference (Fig. 10.1). The well-known Dutch writer Multatuli called it the ‘Emerald Belt’. It consists often distinct subregions: Sumatra, Malaya, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Borneo, The Philippines, Celebes, the Moluccas, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. In UNESCO’s book Natural Resources of Humid Tropical Asia (1974), which contains several good papers, the article I called Botanical Panorama of the Malesian Archipelago reviewed all the important literature on Malesia available then.