84 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. 



Dirt 3.76 



Rubber 81.57 



Resins - 3.16 



Water - 11.51 



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, v/oody 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. 



* Sherman, Jr., P. L. The gutta-percha and rubber of the Philippine 

 Islands. Bureau of Government Laboratories Publication No. 7 (1903), 

 page 39. 



