Ajay Kumar at 19:47, 30 August 2023

2023-08-30T19:47:54Z

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{{Short description|Species of banyan tree}}
{{Distinguish|Rubber tree}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Rubber fig
|image = Ficus elastica leaves 02.JPG
|parent = Ficus subg. Urostigma
|taxon = Ficus elastica
|authority = [[William Roxburgh|Roxb]]. ex [[Hornem.]] 1819 – not Roxb. 1832, nor Roxb. 1814 (the latter not validly published)
|synonyms = *''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. 
|synonyms_ref=<ref>[http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-2810307 The Plant List]</ref>
}}

'''''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 Asia|South]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. It has become naturalized in [[Sri Lanka]], the [[West Indies]], and the [[U.S. state|US state]] of [[Florida]].<ref name=FoC>{{cite web|url=http://efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200006353 |title=''Ficus elastica'' |author=Zhengyi Wu, Zhe-Kun Zhou & Michael G. Gilbert |work=Flora of China |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA |access-date=29 August 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200006353 Flora of North America, ''Ficus elastica'' Roxburgh ex Hornemann, 1819. India rubber plant ]</ref> Despite its common names, it is not used in the commercial production of [[natural rubber]].

==Description==
It is a large tree in the [[banyan]] group of figs, growing to {{convert|30|-|40|m|ft|round=5|abbr=on}} – rarely up to {{convert|60|m|ft|round=5|abbr=on|disp=or}} – tall, with a stout trunk up to {{convert|2|m|ftin|abbr=on}} in diameter. The trunk develops [[Aerial root|aerial]] and [[Buttress roots|buttressing roots]] to anchor it in the soil and help support heavy branches.

It has broad shiny oval leaves {{convert|10|-|35|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|5|-|15|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}} broad; leaf size is largest on young plants (occasionally to {{convert|45|cm|in|disp=or|frac=2|abbr=on}} long), much smaller on old trees (typically {{convert|10|cm|in|0|abbr=on|disp=or}} 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==
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 {{convert|1|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} long, barely edible; these are fake fruits that contain fertile seeds only in areas where the [[pollinating]] insect is present.

==Range==
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==
[[File:10 Shnongpdei 1.JPG|right|thumb|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 root bridges|living bridges]].<ref>[http://humanplanet.com/timothyallen/2011/03/living-root-bridges-bbc-human-planet/ Living Root Bridges]</ref> 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'' [https://planthouseaesthetic.com/do-rubber-plants-have-aerial-roots-heres-what-you-need-to-know/#:~:text=This%20tendency%20also%20manifests%20itself%20in%20captivity%20with%20plants%20as%20small%20as%201ft%2C%20as%20shown%20in%20the%20picture%20above. as small as 1ft tall.]

===Ornamental===
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2021}}
''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 (plant)|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 [[hybrid (biology)|hybrid]]s (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 [[Variegation|variegated]] leaves.

===Latex===
''Ficus elastica'' yields a milky white latex, a chemical compound separate from its sap and carried and stored in different [[laticifer|cells]]. This latex was formerly used to make rubber,<ref name=FoC/> 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.<ref>MacDonald, Elvin "The World Book of House Plants" Popular Books</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Ficus elastica - Köhler–s Medizinal-Pflanzen-206.jpg|Illustration from ''[[Köhler's Medicinal Plants]]'' (1887)
File:Living bridge formed of the aërial roots (33071614871).jpg|An 1854 illustration of ''Ficus elastica'' trained as a [[living bridge]]
File:Ficus elastica Ficus lutea.JPG|''Ficus elastica'' leaf on the left compared to ''[[Ficus lutea]]'' on the right
File:Ficus elastica figs.jpg|The figs of ''F. elastica''
File:Ficus elastica.jpg|''Ficus elastica'' near the roadside in [[Savusavu]], Fiji, showing the effects of constant pruning on the growth form.
File:Ficus elastica.Ghana.jpg|A huge ''Ficus elastica'' tree in Ghana showing the [[aerial root]]s.
File:Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica 'Robusta').jpg|Many cultivars, such as this ''Ficus elastica'' 'Robusta', are common in the houseplant trade
File:Starr 080117-1722 Ficus elastica.jpg|A [[variegated]] cultivar
File:Ficus elastica (rubber plant).jpg|''Ficus elastica'', commonly called the rubber plant.
File:Ficus10.jpg|Ficus black
</gallery>

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q160576}}

[[Category:Ficus|elastica]]
[[Category:Epiphytes]]
[[Category:House plants]]
[[Category:Ornamental trees]]
[[Category:Flora of tropical Asia]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1819]]

Ficus elastica - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 19:47, 30 August 2023