The Rubber Tree (Hevea brasiliensis) :: botany

The rubberize Tree (genus genus Hevea brasiliensis)Rubber is a valuable commodity in todays economy. A vast number of products ar made from it, including washers, gloves, gaskets, tubing, waterproof clothing, toys, erasers, belts, elastics, bottle stoppers, and insularity for electrical wiring. The largest single use of rubber is in the manufacture of pneumatic tires which consumes 60% to 70% of the total world production each year. quest for rubber has grown remarkably since the beginning of the industrial revolution. It is one species, Hevea brasiliensis, which makes up 99% of the worlds natural rubber production. In 1989 that production was deserving an estimated 4 billion dollars. Hevea brasiliensis (the para rubber tree) is a southeast American native that can grow to a height of cl feet. The trees have a smooth bark and palmately compound leaves. They ar monoecious and have small inconspicuous flowers. The seeds are akin to beaver fur beans. On ripening, the fruit caps ule explodes and propels the seeds away from the tree. Hevea brasiliensis is a particle of the family Euphorbiaceae (the spurge family). Euphorbiaceae is a diverse family with approximately 290 genera and 7,500 species. Within the family, there are herbs, shrubs, trees, and fleshy cactus-like species. Some plants from this family are used for their medicinal properties and victual parts. Others are used simply as ornamentals. While there are many useful plants in the family Euphorbiaceae, the sweet and bitter cassava plants (genus Manihot dulcis and Manihot esculenta), as well as the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis), are of greatest economic importance. Latex bearing plants are found in some 20 botanical families. The most prominent families include Sapotaceae, Moraceae, Compositae, Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae, and Euphorbiaceae. In total there are about 18,000 species of latex paint-producing plants. Yet, only a fewer species are currently exploited. Commercially useful rubb er-producing species include Hevea benthamiana (Para rubber), Hevea guianensus (Para rubber), Manihot glaziovii (Ceara rubber), Manihot dichotoma (Jeque rubber), Castilla elastica (Panama rubber), Ficus elastica (India rubber), Funtimia elastica (Lagos rubber), Landolphia kirkii (Landolphia rubber), Landolphia gentilli (Landolphia or Madagascar rubber), Landolphia heudelotii (Landolphia or Madagascar rubber), Landolphia owariensis (Landolphia or Madagascar rubber), Crytostegia grandiflora (Madagascar rubber), Crytostegia madagascariansis (Madagascar rubber), genus Parthenium argentatum (Guayule), Taraxacum kok-saghyz (Russian dandelion), Taraxacum megalorhizon (Russian dandelion), Palaquim gutta (Gutta percha), Manilkara bidentata (Balata), and Manilkara zapata (Chicle). Depending on the species of plant, the latex may be found in a number of locations. It may be within the cells or intercellular spaces of the roots, stems, or leaves of the plant.