Hevea brasiliensis aka Para Rubber

Hevea brasiliensis, the Pará rubber tree, belongs to the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae. It comes from tropical South America, including Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. It grows beside rainforest rivers and in land that floods. Larger trees grow on well-drained plateaux within the same forest. In the wild, it occupies the forest's middle layer. Growers raise it in humid tropical regions for its latex.

This fast-growing tree sheds its leaves and forms a cone-shaped crown. Garden descriptions give a height of about 66 feet [20 metres]. Plantation trees seldom exceed 82 feet [25 metres]. Wild trees can reach over 131 feet [40 metres]. Its spread can reach about 52 feet [16 metres]. The straight or tapering trunk has no buttresses. It may lack branches for 33 feet [10 metres] or more. Smooth grey bark covers the trunk, and the leaves are dark green. Pale yellow flowers lead to large capsule fruits. Both wind and insects pollinate the flowers. The tree can also set seed through its own pollen.

Warm, humid lowlands suit this tree best. It grows best with mean annual temperatures of 23–35°C. Preferred annual rainfall ranges from 1,500 to 3,000 millimetres. It accepts sun or light shade and prefers moist soil. Established plants can withstand drought, despite their wet tropical origin. Sandy soil, loam, and heavy clay can all support growth. Acid to neutral soil suits it, including very acid ground. Frost damages it; PFAF lists USDA zones 11–12. Higher sites tend to reduce growth, latex output, and timber yield.

Growers tap the trunk to collect latex for natural rubber. This species supplies the main source of that material. Its wood also provides timber and fuel. Gardens can use it as a specimen in humid shade. Farms can grow coffee or cocoa beneath or alongside it. Seed oil has uses in soap, paint, varnish, and lighting. The meal left after oil extraction can serve as fertilizer.

Raw seeds contain poisonous cyanogenic compounds and are unsafe to eat. Some communities eat seeds only after treatment to remove these poisons. Their food use does not make untreated seeds safe. Handling the plant may cause skin irritation or an allergic reaction. PFAF reports no known medicinal uses. Fresh seed loses viability fast, so prompt sowing matters.