Siphonia Elastica

The South American rubber plant, from which a

great portion of the caoutchouc of commerce is obtained. There are

several species of siphonia which, equally with the above, furnish

the India rubber exported from Para. The caoutchouc exists in the

tree in the form of a thin, white milk, which exudes from

incisions made in the trunk, and is poured over molds, which were

formerly shaped like jars, bottles, or shoes, hence often called

bottle rubber. As it dries, the coatings of milky juice are

repeated until the required thickness is obtained, and the clay

mold removed. It belongs to the extensive family _Euphorbiaceae_.