34 



RUBBER AND 



of Landolphia^ and from a tree, Mascarhenasia elastica^ 

 which is related to Funtumia, and resembles it in many 

 respects. 



Fig. 6. Ficus elastica* 



ASIATIC RUBBERS. 



We now come to the tree which until quite recently 

 most people have been accustomed to regard as the 

 indiarubber plant par excellence. In its native home in 

 Assam and Upper Burma, Ficus elastica grows into an 

 enormous tree, which few people would recognise at first 

 sight as the familiar indiarubber plant of suburban front 

 rooms. The adult tree develops huge buttress roots, 



