ON THE POSSIBILITY OF CULTIVATING GUTTA 

 PERCHA PEODUCING TREES. 



By L. Wrat, Jun. 



The plants which yield gutta percha are all trees belonging 

 to the order Sapotacex, and the genera Bicliopsis and Payena. 

 Somewhat similar gums are produced by some species of Bassia 

 and Dyera. These, however, are much inferior in quality, and are 

 really only to be considered in the light of adult rants. 



The names of the trees occurring in Perak are as follows : — 



Getah Taban Merah ... Bichopsis gutta, Benth. 



Do. Sutra ... Bo. 'Sp. 



Do. Puteh ... Bo. polyantlm. 



Do. Chaier ... Bo. imstulata. 



Do. Simpor ... Bo. maingayi. 



Getah Sundeh ... ... Payena leerii. 



Some of the native names doubtless cover several species 

 which have the same range and general characteristics. All the 

 above trees are, or rather were, common in Perak, and I believe 

 are to be found generally throughout the southern portion of the 

 Peninsula. Their habitats may be defined as follows : — 



(a). Getah Taban Merah, the tree which yields the best 

 quality of gum, grows in the valleys, and likes plenty of moisture, 

 being often found on the banks of rivers with its roots actually 

 in the water. 



(b). Getah Taban Sutra lives in the ravines of the hills u]) 

 to 800 or 1,000 feet, and also likes to be near water. It would 

 appear to be a rare plant. 



(c). Getah Taban Puteh is an alpine species, and is rarely 

 seen at less than 2,000 feet above sea level. 



(d). Getah Taban Chaier is found on hilly ground, • prin- 

 cipally at the base of the higher ranges, up to nearly 2,000 feet. 



(e). Getah Taban Simpor likes hilly ground, and has been 

 found up as high as 2,500 feet, but it is most common on the 

 low hills at the foot of the higher ranges. 



(/). Getah Sundeh grows on the alluvial plains near the 

 sea coast. 



