On the formation of new rubber in the latex-vessels of Hevea

In various plant-families there occurs a system of laticiferous elements the significance of which is still wrapped in the dark. The road to get an insight into this problem leads through investigation into the function of the system of laticiferous vessels. Hevea has appeared to be particularly suitable for these investigations on account of the property of the latexvessels to yield a certain quantity of latex on being wounded, without its resulting in detriment or irreversible change in the normal processes. Divers of such specialised systems as the system of laticiferous vessels occur in the plant. Leaving the system of waterconducting vessels out of account, we find in the bast a.o. a system of continuous sieve-vessels, one of elements containing tannin and one of parenchymatous elements containing a.o. carbohydrates. A further investigation into these different systems of primary importance for metabolism, is hardly practicable. In the system of latex-vessels of Hevea however we are in more favorable circumstances, because we are able to subject the composition of the latex in definite parts of the system to an accurate quantitative examination and by doing so to carry out an investigation into the metabolism of the latex. The latex of Hevea contains as principal constituents: rubber, resin, nitrogenous substances, quebrachite and salts. Several of these substances have already been examined quantitatively. On the rubber-formation we wish to give some quantitative data in this communication.