Substances Made from Foods 



57 



Fig. 27. Tapping the Para rubber trees, in the Malay 

 States, to get the latex from which crude rubber is made. 



definite glandular structures, or in tubes extending throughout 

 the plant. Gums are soluble in water, forming a sticky solution. 

 Gums and resins form the bases of a variety of varnishes and 

 paints. Mucilages frequently occur in plant cells. Like gums, 

 they are soluble in water and are often useful in holding water 

 in plant tissues. The drought fesistance of some plants is due 

 to the presence of mucilages. 



Latex. Many plants like the milkweeds, euphorbias, figs, and 

 rubber plants have a milky juice, called latex. This is a mixture 

 of resins, gums, fats, and food substances. It is the source of 



