The bark of a rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is cut so that its white latex sap seeps into the exposed groove and drips into a cup attached to the tree for collection of that sticky, milky colloid that is later processed into natural rubber. Known as tapping, those spiraling cuts in the bark to release the latex can be made for as many as 28 years without harming the living tree. Rubber trees grow wild in Amazon rainforests but latex collection for making natural rubber is done mostly on rubberwood plantations in Thailand, Indonesia, China and India.
The bark of a rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is cut so that its white latex sap seeps into the exposed groove and drips into a cup attached to the tree for collection of that sticky, milky colloid that is later processed into natural rubber. Known as tapping, those spiraling cuts in the bark to release the latex can be made for as many as 28 years without harming the living tree. Rubber trees grow wild in Amazon rainforests but latex collection for making natural rubber is done mostly on rubberwood plantations in Thailand, Indonesia, China and India.
Size: 2347px × 3600px
Location: Singapore, Southeast Asia
Photo credit: © Michele and Tom Grimm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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