82 PHILIPPINE RESINS, GUMS, AND OILS 
Family APOCYNACEAE 
Genus CHONEMORPHA 
CHONEMORPHA ELASTICA Merr. (Figs. 30, 31). LIsID. 
Local names: Goma, lisid (Apayao). 
RUBBER 
In the Philippines there are a number of species of native 
plants which furnish rubber, but the only one known to yield 
rubber of a high grade is Chonemorpha elastica. Concerning 
the collection and quality of rubber from this plant, Sherman 
writes :* 
The Philippine rubber collectors are Samal and Joloano Moros living in 
Tawi-Tawi and the adjacent coral islands. The method of coagulation 
used by them was undoubtedly learned from the Moros of North Borneo, 
who with the Dyaks collect much of the rubber in that island. It consists 
in first pulling the vine down to the ground so as to be better able to tap 
it along its entire length. The milk is caught in cocoanut shells or leaves, 
and coagulated by pouring into sea water. The coagulation is almost 
instantaneous, and when properly manipulated a large amount of water 
can be mechanically inclosed inside the large balls along with plenty of 
chopped-up bark. The resulting rubber, of which I secured many samples, 
is white, tough, and very elastic so long as it is kept in sea water. On 
exposure to the air it blackens and decomposition slowly sets in. 
The chemical analysis of a sample of this rubber, after much of the 
dirt and water had been removed, resulted as follows: 
Per cent. 
Dae ee on ee ee ey ee Ee ee 3.76 
Rabb ete kre ee Ag ee 81.57 
Resins! “420 ee. Se ee ee eee 3.16 
Waters 8 ade ee ee a ee ee Bil: 
Formerly this species existed in considerable numbers in 
Basilan and Tawi-Tawi, but the method of collection described | 
above has naturally lessened the potential supply, and will reduce 
it to such an extent that it will not be profitable to gather the 
rubber. No extensive industry can be expected from the col- 
lection of rubber from this vine. 
Chonemorpha elastica is a large, woody vine. The leaves are 
opposite, thin, rounded or slightly pointed at the base, pointed 
at the tip, 15 to 20 centimeters long, and 8 to 15 centimeters 
wide. The flowers are white, fragrant, and about 3 centimeters 
wide. 
This species has been reported from Cagayan, Apayao, Ben- 
guet, Cavite, Mindanao, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi. 

a 
* Sherman, Jr., P. L. The gutta-percha and rubber of the Philippine © 
Islands. Bureau of Government Laboratories Publication No. 7 (1903), 
page 39. 
