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One of the most common trees in Malaysia is the rubber
tree, known also by its botanical name of Hevea
brasiliensis. It is a familiar tree to all especially
those who have traveled by car through Peninsular
Malaysia and passed kilometer after kilometer of roads
lined with these trees. A rubber tree is easily
recognized by the tapping panel along the trunk and the
ever-present tapping cup tied to it. The tree itself is
medium-sized with a tall, straight trunk and rough bark.
The flowers grow in bunches and are small, pale yellow
and fragrant. Both the male and female flowers occur in
the small bunch. The leaves are trifoliate. The fruits
are capsules of three lobes, each containing a hard and
shiny seed. Rubber seeds are dispersed with a loud
explosion of the capsules. On a dry day, such popping
sounds can be heard throughout the rubber plantation
when the fruits are ripe.
The rubber tree originates from Brazil. In 1876, it
was introduced into Singapore when the Botanic Gardens
received a consignment of plants from Kew Gardens in
England. Unfortunately, all those plants died. A second
consignment was received the next year and they thrived.
Initially, most of these were planted in the Palm Valley
of the Botanic Gardens. Later, the trees were
transferred to the Economic Gardens in Bukit Timah where
the National Institute of Education is. Seeds from these
trees were sent to various parts of Malaysia. The trees
flourished and their cultivation spread. The rubber tree
became a commercial enterprise and owners of rubber
plantations became millionaires almost overnight.
H. N. Ridley, the man who saw the potential of the
introduced rubber tree can be said to be the pioneer of
rubber in South East Asia. It was his vision and
foresight that led to the introduction of new methods of
tapping latex and improved ways of cultivation. |
