Ficus elastica

Ficus elastica, also called the rubber fig, rubber tree, rubber plant, or Indian rubber tree is a species of plant in the fig genus, native from northeast India (Assam), south to Indonesia (Sumatra and Java).

Related Topics:
Plant - Fig - India - Assam - Indonesia - Sumatra - Java

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It is a large tree in the banyan group of figs, growing to 30-40 m (rarely up to 60 m) tall, with a stout trunk up to 2 m diameter, with an irregular trunk which develops aerial and buttressing roots to anchor it in the soil and help support heavy branches. It has broad shiny oval leaves 10-35 cm long and 5-15 cm broad; leaf size is largest on young plants (occasionally to 45 cm long), much smaller on old trees (typically 10 cm long). The leaves develop inside a sheath at the apical meristem, which grows larger as the new leaf develops. When it is mature, it unfurls and the sheath drops off the plant. Inside the new leaf, another immature leaf is waiting to develop.

Related Topics:
Tree - Banyan - Leaves

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As with other members of the genus Ficus, the flowers require a particular species of fig wasp to pollinate it in a co-evolved relationship. Because of this relationship, the rubber plant does not produce highly colourful or fragrant flowers to attract other pollinators. The fruit is a small yellow-green oval fig 1 cm long, barely edible; it will only contain viable seed where the relevant fig wasp species is present.

Related Topics:
Flower - Fig wasp - Fruit - Seed

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