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Ficus elastica

Ficus elastica, the rubber fig, rubber bush, rubber tree, rubber plant, or Indian rubber bush, Indian rubber tree, is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae, native to eastern parts of South and Southeast Asia. It has become naturalized in Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and the US state of Florida.[2][3] Despite its common names, it is not used in the commercial production of natural rubber.

Rubber fig
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Moraceae
Genus: Ficus
Subgenus: F. subg. Urostigma
Species:
F. elastica
Binomial name
Ficus elastica
Roxb. ex Hornem. 1819
– not Roxb. 1832, nor Roxb. 1814 (the latter not validly published)
Synonyms[1]
  • Ficus clusiifolia Summerh. 1929 not Schott 1827
  • Ficus cordata Kunth & C.D.Bouché 1846 not Thunb. 1786
  • Ficus elastica var. belgica L.H.Bailey & E.Z.Bailey
  • Ficus elastica var. benghalensis Blume
  • Ficus elastica var. decora Guillaumin
  • Ficus elastica var. karet (Miq.) Miq.
  • Ficus elastica var. minor Miq.
  • Ficus elastica var. odorata (Miq.) Miq.
  • Ficus elastica var. rubra L.H.Bailey & E.Z.Bailey
  • Ficus karet (Miq.) King
  • Ficus skytinodermis Summerh.
  • Ficus taeda Kunth & C.D.Bouché
  • Macrophthalma elastica (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Gasp.
  • Visiania elastica (Roxb. ex Hornem.) Gasp.

Description edit

It is a large tree in the banyan group of figs, growing to 30–40 m (100–130 ft) – rarely up to 60 m or 195 ft – tall, with a stout trunk up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in diameter. The trunk develops aerial and buttressing roots to anchor it in the soil and help support heavy branches.

It has broad shiny oval leaves 10–35 cm (4–14 in) long and 5–15 cm (2–6 in) broad; leaf size is largest on young plants (occasionally to 45 cm or 17+12 in long), much smaller on old trees (typically 10 cm or 4 in long). The leaves develop inside a sheath at the apical meristem, which grows larger as the new leaf develops. When it is mature, it unfurls and the sheath drops off the plant. Inside the new leaf, another immature leaf is waiting to develop.

Pollination and fruiting edit

As with other members of the genus Ficus, the flowers require a particular species of fig wasp to pollinate it in a co-evolved relationship. Because of this relationship, the rubber plant does not produce highly colourful or fragrant flowers to attract other pollinators. The fruit is a small yellow-green oval fig 1 cm (12 in) long, barely edible; these are fake fruits that contain fertile seeds only in areas where the pollinating insect is present.

Range edit

The natural range of F. elastica extends from Nepal in the north to Indonesia, Bhutan, Northeastern India, Myanmar, Yunnan in China, and Malaysia. It has been widely introduced in most tropical regions of the world, including Hawaii and the West Indies. In Europe, it can be found in mild locations throughout the Mediterranean Basin.

Cultivation and uses edit

 
Aerial roots of Ficus elastica being formed into a bridge in Meghalaya, India

In parts of India, people guide the roots of the tree over chasms to eventually form living bridges.[4] To this day there are large bridges woven from aerial roots in Meghalaya, India. Although the trees used for these bridges are very large, aerial roots can be found on F. elastica as small as 1ft tall.

Ornamental edit

Ficus elastica is grown around the world as an ornamental plant, outside in frost-free climates (though it also tolerates light frosts) from the tropical to the Mediterranean and inside in colder climates as a houseplant. Although it is grown in Hawaii, the species of fig wasp required to allow it to spread naturally is not present there.

Most cultivated plants are produced by vegetative propagation. This can be done by cuttings or by layering.

All parts of the plant contain an abundant milky white latex, which has been tested for use in the manufacture of rubber, but without economic and technical results; commercial rubber is in fact produced from the sap of Hevea brasiliensis.

In cultivation, it prefers bright sunlight but not hot temperatures. It has a high tolerance for drought, but prefers humidity and thrives in wet, tropical conditions. Ornamental hybrids (such as Robusta) have been derived from Ficus elastica with broader, stiffer and more upright leaves than the wild form. Many such hybrids exist, often with variegated leaves.

Latex edit

Ficus elastica yields a milky white latex, a chemical compound separate from its sap and carried and stored in different cells. This latex was formerly used to make rubber,[2] but it should not be confused with the Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), the main commercial source of latex for rubber making. Just as with Hevea brasiliensis, the latex of Ficus elastica is an irritant to the eyes and skin and is toxic if taken internally.[5]

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The Plant List". from the original on 2019-07-02. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  2. ^ a b Zhengyi Wu, Zhe-Kun Zhou & Michael G. Gilbert. "Ficus elastica". Flora of China. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  3. ^ "Flora of North America, Ficus elastica Roxburgh ex Hornemann, 1819. India rubber plant". from the original on 2018-04-29. Retrieved 2015-08-19.
  4. ^ "Living Root Bridges". from the original on 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
  5. ^ MacDonald, Elvin "The World Book of House Plants" Popular Books

ficus, elastica, confused, with, rubber, tree, rubber, rubber, bush, rubber, tree, rubber, plant, indian, rubber, bush, indian, rubber, tree, species, flowering, plant, family, moraceae, native, eastern, parts, south, southeast, asia, become, naturalized, lank. Not to be confused with Rubber tree Ficus elastica the rubber fig rubber bush rubber tree rubber plant or Indian rubber bush Indian rubber tree is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae native to eastern parts of South and Southeast Asia It has become naturalized in Sri Lanka the West Indies and the US state of Florida 2 3 Despite its common names it is not used in the commercial production of natural rubber Rubber figScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder RosalesFamily MoraceaeGenus FicusSubgenus F subg UrostigmaSpecies F elasticaBinomial nameFicus elasticaRoxb ex Hornem 1819 not Roxb 1832 nor Roxb 1814 the latter not validly published Synonyms 1 Ficus clusiifolia Summerh 1929 not Schott 1827 Ficus cordata Kunth amp C D Bouche 1846 not Thunb 1786 Ficus elastica var belgica L H Bailey amp E Z Bailey Ficus elastica var benghalensis Blume Ficus elastica var decora Guillaumin Ficus elastica var karet Miq Miq Ficus elastica var minor Miq Ficus elastica var odorata Miq Miq Ficus elastica var rubra L H Bailey amp E Z Bailey Ficus karet Miq King Ficus skytinodermis Summerh Ficus taeda Kunth amp C D Bouche Macrophthalma elastica Roxb ex Hornem Gasp Visiania elastica Roxb ex Hornem Gasp Contents 1 Description 2 Pollination and fruiting 3 Range 4 Cultivation and uses 4 1 Ornamental 4 2 Latex 5 Gallery 6 ReferencesDescription editIt is a large tree in the banyan group of figs growing to 30 40 m 100 130 ft rarely up to 60 m or 195 ft tall with a stout trunk up to 2 m 6 ft 7 in in diameter The trunk develops aerial and buttressing roots to anchor it in the soil and help support heavy branches It has broad shiny oval leaves 10 35 cm 4 14 in long and 5 15 cm 2 6 in broad leaf size is largest on young plants occasionally to 45 cm or 17 1 2 in long much smaller on old trees typically 10 cm or 4 in long The leaves develop inside a sheath at the apical meristem which grows larger as the new leaf develops When it is mature it unfurls and the sheath drops off the plant Inside the new leaf another immature leaf is waiting to develop Pollination and fruiting editAs with other members of the genus Ficus the flowers require a particular species of fig wasp to pollinate it in a co evolved relationship Because of this relationship the rubber plant does not produce highly colourful or fragrant flowers to attract other pollinators The fruit is a small yellow green oval fig 1 cm 1 2 in long barely edible these are fake fruits that contain fertile seeds only in areas where the pollinating insect is present Range editThe natural range of F elastica extends from Nepal in the north to Indonesia Bhutan Northeastern India Myanmar Yunnan in China and Malaysia It has been widely introduced in most tropical regions of the world including Hawaii and the West Indies In Europe it can be found in mild locations throughout the Mediterranean Basin Cultivation and uses edit nbsp Aerial roots of Ficus elastica being formed into a bridge in Meghalaya IndiaIn parts of India people guide the roots of the tree over chasms to eventually form living bridges 4 To this day there are large bridges woven from aerial roots in Meghalaya India Although the trees used for these bridges are very large aerial roots can be found on F elastica as small as 1ft tall Ornamental edit This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Ficus elastica is grown around the world as an ornamental plant outside in frost free climates though it also tolerates light frosts from the tropical to the Mediterranean and inside in colder climates as a houseplant Although it is grown in Hawaii the species of fig wasp required to allow it to spread naturally is not present there Most cultivated plants are produced by vegetative propagation This can be done by cuttings or by layering All parts of the plant contain an abundant milky white latex which has been tested for use in the manufacture of rubber but without economic and technical results commercial rubber is in fact produced from the sap of Hevea brasiliensis In cultivation it prefers bright sunlight but not hot temperatures It has a high tolerance for drought but prefers humidity and thrives in wet tropical conditions Ornamental hybrids such as Robusta have been derived from Ficus elastica with broader stiffer and more upright leaves than the wild form Many such hybrids exist often with variegated leaves Latex edit Ficus elastica yields a milky white latex a chemical compound separate from its sap and carried and stored in different cells This latex was formerly used to make rubber 2 but it should not be confused with the Para rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis the main commercial source of latex for rubber making Just as with Hevea brasiliensis the latex of Ficus elastica is an irritant to the eyes and skin and is toxic if taken internally 5 Gallery edit nbsp Illustration from Kohler s Medicinal Plants 1887 nbsp An 1854 illustration of Ficus elastica trained as a living bridge nbsp Ficus elastica leaf on the left compared to Ficus lutea on the right nbsp The figs of F elastica nbsp Ficus elastica near the roadside in Savusavu Fiji showing the effects of constant pruning on the growth form nbsp A huge Ficus elastica tree in Ghana showing the aerial roots nbsp Many cultivars such as this Ficus elastica Robusta are common in the houseplant trade nbsp A variegated cultivar nbsp Ficus elastica commonly called the rubber plant nbsp Ficus blackReferences edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ficus elastica The Plant List Archived from the original on 2019 07 02 Retrieved 2018 03 11 a b Zhengyi Wu Zhe Kun Zhou amp Michael G Gilbert Ficus elastica Flora of China Missouri Botanical Garden St Louis MO amp Harvard University Herbaria Cambridge MA Archived from the original on 20 April 2017 Retrieved 29 August 2013 Flora of North America Ficus elastica Roxburgh ex Hornemann 1819 India rubber plant Archived from the original on 2018 04 29 Retrieved 2015 08 19 Living Root Bridges Archived from the original on 2018 06 21 Retrieved 2012 06 19 MacDonald Elvin The World Book of House Plants Popular Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ficus elastica amp oldid 1201934246, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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