About
Rubber is an elastic material obtained from latex of many tropical trees. However, Hevea brasiliensis is most commercially and commonly cultivated rubber plant. It is native of Brazil and belongs to order Euphorbiaceae. The tree is tall, sturdy and fast growing. The tree requires deep and lateritic fertile soil with acidic pH of 4.5 to 6 and highly deficient in phosphorous. Tropical climate with annual rainfall of 2000 to 4500mm suited for cultivation. The tree grows up to 30 meter height and started producing latex after 6 to 7 years of planting. Properly managed tree responds to wounding and produce more latex for many years.
The latex is milky colloid, sticky drawn by making incisions in the bark and the process of collecting the fluid in vessels is called as tapping. The latex then is processed into rubber ready for commercial usage. Rubber is useful due to its priceless qualities of elasticity, resistance to water and non-conduction of electricity.