57 
although they may retard the healing up of the wounds, are not 
necessarily injurious to the tree. They certainly do not affect its 
physiological functions, but only represent a danger as they offer a 
chance to certain insects to lay their eggs into the wood, so that 
subsequently the trees may suffer from or even succumb to the 
ravages of the larvae and insects (wood-burrowing beetles) eman- 
ating from these eggs. But this danger is easily avoided by paint- 
ing the cuts after the co'Iection of the latex and “ scraps " with an 
antiseptic paint. It also appears that this simple and inexpensive 
treatment assists materially in the healing ot these cuts, as all the 
cuts thus treated began to heal up already, within a week after the 
tapping. Dr. C. O. Weber, Ph. D,, in the India Rubber and 
Gutta Percha Trades’ Journal of September, 29th 1902. 
To be continued. 
THE HEVEAS OR SERINGUEIRAS, 
BY 
J. BARBOSA RODRIGUES, 
Director, Botanic Gardens, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 
v 
Translated by 
A. D. MACHADO, 
Assistant Superintendent , Botanic Gardens , Singapore , 
Chapter II. 
Botanical. 
The Ule, borracha , seringa , or caoutchouc , are synonymous 
names given indiscriminately to the various species of the genus 
Hevea of the family of the Euphorbiaceae, They are majestic 
trees, erect, with few branches except at the apex, attaining from 
30 to 40 metres in height, w ith one, more or less, in diameter. The 
leaves are alternate, bistipulate, with long petioles and digitato- 
trifoliate. The petioles are at the apex, on the upper side, glandu- 
lar, and the petiolules are small and naked. The inflorescence is 
hermaphroditic, in axillary or terminal panicles, producing trisper- 
mous, trisulcate, large and dehiscent pods with hard seeds resembl- 
ing those of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis , L.) Animals 
devour them with avidity, while even men will eat them, without 
fear of consequences, notwithstanding that they produce a very 
excellent oil. 
In September, all leaves are shed, to be in October, covered 
with new foliage, after which blooming commences and lasts till 
November, when the period of rains sets in. Fruits appear only 
in April and May, at the time when as a rule, the ground is sodden 
bv flood. It is a fact worth recording that the genus Hevea is 
noted not only for the quality of milk it produces, but also for its 
properties. And yet it is not the Euphorbiaceae alone that pro- 
duce milk, but as my concern is solely with the Amazonian flora, 
ufc 
