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Discovering the Origin of American Rubber Plant:
A Historical Perspective

Updated: May 19, 2023

Rubber has been a vital commodity for the world economy for centuries. It is used in various industries, from automobile tires to surgical gloves. The rubber plant, Hevea brasiliensis, is the primary source of natural rubber. However, the origin of this plant is not from America, as its name suggests. In this article, we will delve into the history of how the American rubber plant came to be and where it originated.

The Origin of Rubber

Rubber has been in use for thousands of years in various forms. The ancient Mayans and Aztecs used rubber to make balls, shoes, and other objects. In the 16th century, European explorers discovered the rubber tree in South America. They observed the indigenous people using a substance that could bounce like a ball and stretch like a rope.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that rubber gained widespread commercial use. Charles Goodyear invented vulcanized rubber in 1839, which made it more resilient and durable. However, this discovery created a surge in demand for rubber, leading to a shortage in supply.

The Search for New Sources of Rubber

The shortage of rubber led to many expeditions to find new sources. One such expedition was led by Henry Wickham in 1876. He smuggled nearly 70,000 seeds of Hevea brasiliensis out of Brazil and took them to England. These seeds were then transported to British colonies around the world where they were planted.

The first successful plantation outside of Brazil was established in Sri Lanka in 1876. This was followed by plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia. These countries became major producers of rubber, and their economies grew rapidly as a result.

The American Rubber Plant

During this time, there was also a search for a new source of rubber in America. Thomas Edison was among those who sought to find a native species that could be cultivated for commercial purposes. Edison believed that if rubber could be produced domestically, it would reduce America’s reliance on foreign sources.

In 1927, Edison teamed up with Harvey Firestone, founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, to launch a research project to find an American source of rubber. The project involved sending expeditions across the U.S. to collect samples from various plants.

The expeditions found over 17,000 different plants that were tested for their rubber content. One plant that showed promise was guayule (Parthenium argentatum), which grows naturally in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Guayule was found to contain high-quality rubber and was easy to cultivate. During World War II, when America’s supplies of natural rubber were cut off by Japan, guayule became an important source of domestic production.

However, despite guayule’s success as a source of rubber during wartime, it could not compete with Hevea brasiliensis on a commercial scale. Today, guayule is used primarily as a niche product for specialty items like allergy-free gloves.

Conclusion

The origin of the American rubber plant is rooted in history and exploration. While America did not have its own source of natural rubber, efforts were made to find one. Guayule proved to be a promising candidate but ultimately could not compete with Hevea brasiliensis on a commercial scale.

Rubber remains an essential commodity today and continues to be sourced from around the world. As technology advances, there may be new discoveries about the properties and uses of different plants that contain rubber.

FAQ

What is Hevea brasiliensis?

Hevea brasiliensis is a tree species native to South America that produces latex sap used to make natural rubber.

Why did America search for its own source of rubber?

America sought its own source of rubber due to shortages caused by high demand and limited supply from foreign sources.

What is guayule?

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum) is a shrub that contains high-quality natural rubber and grows naturally in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Can guayule compete with Hevea brasiliensis?

Guayule has proven to be an effective source of natural rubber but cannot compete with Hevea brasiliensis on a commercial scale due to factors such as cost-effectiveness and ease of cultivation.

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