47 
Apocynaceae. 
The genus Landolphia include several valuable species, 
the most important being L. florid a (Vahea comorensis) L. 
ovariensis (white rubber vine) and L. Kir kit from East . 
tropical Africa. 
Other species are:— L. Thollonn, Southern Congo, L. 
Buchananii, East tropical Africa, L. peter shma, Trop 
Africa, L. senegalensis, and L. foment asa, W. Coast, L. 
mad ag a s c ( i r i e ns i s , Eiast Coast. The Landolphias possibly 
occur all over tropical Africa including Madagascar and 
Zanzibar. All are climbing plants resembling the Malayan 
Willuglibeias and require a post or other tree to support 
the vine or liane and consequently are not of easy cul- 
tivation. The supply of rubber from indigenous plants 
owing to excessive and uncontrolled tapping — has con- 
siderably diminished. In German East Africa more con- 
trol is excercised and worked areas are stated to be closed 
for a period of 3 or 4 years after tapping. Plantations, too, 
are being formed at the Botanic stations of British African 
possessions but it is doubtful if these can do more than 
reserve seeds. 
So far, only dirty, badly prepared rubber has been put 
on the market from Africa and some of this loses as much 
as 50% weight in washing. In some parts of Africa the 
native collectors allow the latex to flow on the ground, 
where some of the moisture is adsorbed or evaporated and 
when coagulated is afterwards gathered regardless of dirt. 
In other parts the negroes smear the latex over their 
bodies and when sufficiently agglutinated, tear it off and 
roll into balls. From the Congo some Landolphia rubber 
is obtained by diluting the latex with water and as the 
caoutchouc separates it is skimmed off and kneaded into 
various forms, While at other places on the West Coast 
rubber is prepared by treating the latex with salt-water, 
lime juice or boiling effusions of certain qdants, notably 
Bauhinia reticulata. As may be inferred much of such 
rubber is very poor grade and only obtains a low price. 
Some of the best prepared Mozambique ball (probably — 
Landolphia Kirkii) reached 4/9/ against 5/4 for fine hard 
Para. 
Funtwnia elastica (Lagos silk rubber) was first re- 
ported from Lagos in 1894. It is widely distributed on the 
West Coast and is also abundant in Uganda. Unlike the 
climbing Landolphias — to which Funtumia is allied — this 
species forms a medium sized tree and admits of easy cub 
