rubber tree

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Natural Rubber
• Para Rubber Tree
• Pará Rubber Tree
• Rubber Plant
• Rubber Tree
• Sharinga Tree
• Para rubber

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Siphonia brasiliensis
• Siphonia janeirensis
• Siphonia ridleyana
• Hevea brasiliensis f. acreana
• Hevea brasiliensis var. acreana
• Hevea brasiliensis f. angustifolia
• Hevea brasiliensis var. angustifolia
• Hevea brasiliensis monstr. granthamii
• Hevea brasiliensis var. janeirensis
• Hevea brasiliensis f. latifolia
• Hevea brasiliensis var. latifolia
• Hevea brasiliensis f. randiana
• Hevea brasiliensis var. randiana
• Hevea brasiliensis var. stylosa
• Hevea janeirensis
• Hevea sieberi
• Hevea granthamii
• Hevea randiana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Euphorbiaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Hevea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Hevea brasiliensis, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several regions of the African continent. Within West Tropical Africa, it can be found in the nations of Benin and Guinea-Bissau. Its range further extends through West Tropical Africa to include the country of Guinea. Additionally, the species is documented to grow in Togo, located within the same West Tropical African zone. Finally, its presence is noted in West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically within the Central African Republic.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hevea brasiliensis is characterized by its preference for lowland tropical environments, occupying an elevational range that begins at 0 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. It is typically found within specific moisture-rich ecosystems, specifically thriving in habitats such as Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria (riparian or gallery forests) and Floresta de Várzea (floodplain forests). These habitats provide the necessary hydrological conditions and soil compositions required for its natural distribution and growth cycles.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Ciliar ou Galeria, Floresta de Várzea

Life history

The life history of Hevea brasiliensis is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist and remain productive through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it develops a robust structural form where its buds are borne on conspicuous branches high above the ground, facilitating its growth into a significant tree species. Throughout its life cycle, the plant exhibits deciduousness, shedding its foliage periodically, which is a critical aspect of its seasonal physiological rhythm. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle, a phanerophyte life form, and a deciduous growth habit defines its biological strategy and ecological presence.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hevea brasiliensis is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody tree, which reaches a mean and maximum height of approximately 25 m. As a self-supporting organism, it does not function as a climber or a liana, maintaining a sturdy, upright structure throughout its life cycle. The plant is strictly terrestrial, lacking any aquatic or semiaquatic adaptations, and it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, such as being a holoepiphyte or hemiepiphyte. Furthermore, Hevea brasiliensis is an independent species that does not function as a parasite, relying on its own physiological processes for nutrient acquisition.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hevea brasiliensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. The plant's vegetative structure includes leaves that vary significantly in size, typically exhibiting a mean leaf length of 17.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 25 cm) and a mean leaf width of 7 cm (ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 10 cm). In terms of structural composition, the plant maintains a stem specific density (SSD) with a mean value of 609 mg/cm³, reflecting its internal tissue density and mechanical strength. Additionally, Hevea brasiliensis does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nitrogen availability to support its physiological development and growth.

Leaf length max:

25 cm

Leaf length mean:

17.5 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

7 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Stem specific density (SSD) mean:

609 mg/cm³

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hevea brasiliensis involves a complex biological process characterized by insect pollination and a specialized dispersal strategy. The plant exhibits self-fertilization capabilities, which aids in its reproductive success. The pollination syndrome is primarily driven by insects, facilitating the transfer of pollen. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces dry fruits with a width ranging from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, maintaining an average width of 5.5 cm. The resulting seeds are substantial in size and weight; they possess a seed length between 50 mm and 100 mm, a seed volume that remains consistent at 2900 mm³, and a seed mass that varies from 3 g to a maximum of 4.3478 g, with a mean mass of approximately 3.80945 g. Once mature, the dispersal syndrome is classified as hydrochorous, indicating that water plays a key role in the movement and distribution of the seeds.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit width max:

6 cm

Fruit width mean:

5.5 cm

Fruit width min:

5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Seed length max:

100 mm

Seed length min:

50 mm

Seed mass max:

4.3478 g

Seed mass mean:

3.80945 g

Seed mass min:

3 g

Seed volume max:

2900 mm³

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Hevea brasiliensis has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include geranyl pyrophosphate, Dimethylallyl pyrophosphate, Hevein, Mg2+, Rubber.

geranyl pyrophosphate

1. Phytochemistry
2. The Journal of biological chemistry

Dimethylallyl pyrophosphate

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

Hevein

1. Archives of biochemistry and biophysics

Mg2+

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

Rubber

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

all-trans Farnesyl pyrophosphate

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

farnesyl pyrophosphate

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

isopentenyl pyrophosphate

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

Preparations

Hevea brasiliensis has 3 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include latex, serum-free rubber particles, whole latex.

Latex

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

Serum-free rubber particles

1. The Journal of biological chemistry

Whole latex

1. The Journal of biological chemistry