May 1, 1914.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



407 



Dr. Huber's Last Four Articles on Hevea. 



WHEN, in January last (page 170j, The India Rlbber 

 World published a review of the recently issued 

 "Bolctim," Vol. VII., of The Goeldi Museum, Para, the 

 work accomplished by that institution was regarded with the 

 prospect of its being for a long time to come under the skilled 

 direction which liad brought it to its present condition. By the 

 deatii of Dr. Jacques Huber, on February 18, The "Boletim" 

 (or "Bulletin'') derives a fresh interest from the fact that it 

 contains a group of four articles by Dr. Huber on his favorite 

 subject of Hevea, which thus acquire retrospective value. A 

 brief summary of these articles is here reproduced as a contribu- 

 tion ro rubber literature, and as a memorial of the deceased 

 scientist. 



In his opening words, the author explains that although seem- 

 ingly disconnected, these four articles are all inspired by the 

 desire to elucidate the intricacies which attend the affinities 

 between the varieties of this genus, as well as its geographical 

 distribution. It is hoped in this way to attain a more reliable 

 basis for the commercial nomenclature of the product, and the 

 methodical selection of the types most appropriate for systematic 

 cultivation. 



SCOPE OF THE FOUR ARTICLES. 



The articles are divided as follows : 



I. Systematic and Geographical Distribution of the genus 

 Hevea. 



II. Some species of Hcvca from the river I<;a-Putumayo. 



III. Distribution of Hcvca in State of Para. 



I\'. Variable characteristics of genus Hevea and possibilities 

 of a methodical selection. 



SYSTEM.\TIC AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF HEVEA. 



The botanical nomenclature of the separate varieties of Hcvca 

 had formed the subject of controversy between Dr. Huber and 

 Professor Pax, of Breslau, the first-named scientist having made 

 a classification of the botanical section Bisoflionia into three 

 series, with fourteen sub-divisions, while the latter defined seven 

 series with eighteen varieties. The individual classifications 

 being in many cases alike, the difference was in their allocation 

 into sub-divisions, Hevea Brasiliensis constituting a prominent 

 feature in each case, and being referred to as differing only 

 slightly from Randiana. 



Dr. Huber's proposed division is as follows : Luteae Series — 

 Hevea lutca, apiculata, caneata, Benthamiaiia, Duckei, palndosa 

 (rigidifotia). Intermediac Series — Hevea minor, microphylla, 

 Randiana, Brasiliensis. ObtusHiorae Series — Hevea Spruceana, 

 similis, pauciflora, confusa. 



Besides these fourteen sub-divisions. Dr. Huber introduces 

 three as being of uncertain allocation: nitida, viridis and Kun- 

 thiana, entering into a detailed discussion of the various differ- 

 ences pointed out by Professor Pax. He further expresses his 

 concurrence with the view of the last-named scientist, that al- 

 though the samples examined of Hcvca fruits and seeds show 

 various generic differences, only a few species are known. If a 

 large parcel of seeds is secured from any point in the Hczca 

 zone, some clearly-defined types may be recognized which might 

 be regarded as minor varieties. 



Proceeding to the discussion of the geographical distribution 

 of the varieties of Hevea, Dr. Huber refers to the division made 

 by Ule into two territories bounded by the equator : a northern 

 one, traversed by "black rivers," and a larger southern one, 

 whose rivers are of white water. Both districts have their own 

 varieties of Hevea, though in locations near the boundary species 

 of a transition character are to be found. 



According to Professor Pax, the northern half would contain 



eleven varieties and the southern seven, while, according to Dr. 

 Huber, the relative distribution would be eight and eleven. Dr. 

 Huber remarks that as a fact the Amazon territory cannot be 

 divided by the equator, the Amazon valley or any other imag- 

 inary line, into two natural regions, and that we would obtain a 

 wrong idea of the distribution of Hevea if we accepted such a 

 division. According to the present stage of exploration, the 

 varieties apparently belonging to the Rio Negro territory are : 

 Hevea lutea, apiculata, Benthamiaiia, rigidifolia, minor and 

 microphylla. To the territory west of the Rio Negro belong: 

 Hevea Duckei and paludosa ; to the eastern part of the continent 

 up to the coast of Guiana: Hevea Cuayanensis; while to the 

 most northerly part of the area belong Hcvca membranacea and 

 paucHlora. To the central Amazonian lowlands belong — with 

 a particular extension to the south : Hevea Brasilcnsis; with 

 nortlierly and southerly radiations: Hevea Spruceana; with a 

 limited area along or near the course of the Amazon : Hevea 

 Similis, discolor, nitida and viridis. To the continent south of 

 Amazonas belong: Hevea cuneata, nigra and collina, while a 

 variety resembling Giiayanensis is found on the continent to the 

 east of Belem (Para). 



IL SOME SPECIES OF THE HEVEA FROM THE RIVER ICA- 

 PUTUMAYO. 



In dealing with this subject, Dr. Huber explains that the river 

 Iga (called by the Peruvians the Putumayo), is one of the 

 northern affluents of the Solimoes. As will be recalled, this 

 river has many seringaes along its course, the rubber coming 

 from there being known as "Putumayo" rubber. It is inferior 

 in quality to that received from the southern affluents of the 

 above-named river. 



Reporting on three samples of Putumayo rubber, which he re- 

 ceived early in 1911 from W. Fox, former superintendent of the 

 Penang Botanical Garden, who had lately visited Peru, Dr. 

 Huber gives a complete botanical description of : 



Hevea Foxii, said to grow to the height of 70 feet, found in 

 the woods near Ultimo Retiro and called by the natives "Ituri";^ 

 Hevea glabrescens, found in Eastern Peru, on the river Putu- 

 mayo, near Liberia and Sombra ; Hci'ea viridis, already de- 

 scribed by him on previous occasions, found to the west of the 

 Putumayo river. 



Dr. Huber considers the first two of the above (which have 

 been designated as "new species — Huber") as being intimately 

 related to the group of Hevea lutea. He quotes the remarks of 

 Mr. Fox to the effect that 75 per cent, of the rubber exported 

 from the Putumayo region is produced from Hevea Foxii, this 

 variety of tree being the only one as a rule incised, all the other 

 rubber trees being felled in order to extract their latex. 



The third sample received by Dr. Huber from Mr. Fox, Hevea 

 ziridis, had been already described by the former in 1902. in the 

 "Bulletin de la Societe Botanique de France." Volume XLIX., 

 page 48, and in the "Boletim" of the Para Museum, Volume III., 

 page 16 and 17. Dr. Huber expresses the opinion that the third' 

 plant collected by Mr. Fox corresponds exactly with the Hevea 

 viridis, described as above. It is found on both sides of the 

 Amazon. 



III. DISTRIBUTIOX OF HEVEA IN THE STATE OF PARA. 



Applying the general principles already propounded, to the 

 State of Para, Dr. Huber distinguishes four typical series of 

 Hevea: 



1. Seringueira vcrdadeira (Hcvca Brasiliensis), of the series 

 Intermediac. 2. Seringueira torrada (Hevea Benthamiana), of 

 the seris Luteae. 3. Seringueiras vermclhas (Hevea Cuayanensis 

 and collina of section Euhevea. 4. Seringueira barriguda (Hevea. 

 Spruceana) of the series ObtusiHorae. 



