&
DEVELOPMENT 45
Rubber tree Hevea brasiliensis by P
Padmanabhan, India
Family Euphorbiaceae
Description A large tree, attaining
a height
of 60-100 feet
with a girth of 8-12 feet.
trunk. No other single species of plant has influenced life systems around the globe as much as has the rubber tree. In India, the prosperity of many small villages in Kerala can be largely attributed to rubber plantations producing latex and supporting the apiculture
Stem: smooth and straight; generally
industry.
unbranched up to a considerable height, with a multi-branched canopy.
Rubber wood that has been treated for protection from attack from fungi and insects can be used for construction of bee hives, as shown in experiments carried out at Kerala Forest Research Institute.
Bark: greyish. Leaves: trifoliate with petiole, leaflets glabrous.
Flowers: monoecious, smail, creamy yellow or green, sweet-scent in large pubescent panicles.
Fruits: ellipoidal, capsular, tricarpettary. Each capsule contains one seed.
Distribution to Brazil. It was introduced to south-east Asia in 1876 and is widespread throughout China, Indonesia, Java, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Sumatra. It is also grown in Africa. In India, Kerala is the most important rubber-producing state, with plantations varying in area from less than one acre to over three hectares. Hevea brasiliensis is native
Hevea brasiliensis P Padmanabhan
Apicultural value of the most important nectar sources in the tropics. The young light green leaves secrete nectar from three extra floral nectaries situated at the joint of the petioles. This is collected in abundance by honeybees. Hevea brasiliensis is one
Uses Hevea brasiliensis is valued for the latex (rubber) obtained by “tapping” the latex vessels situated in the bark with a sharp incision on the main
Rubber tapping
Do your bees have favourite trees? You are welcome to send in your contribution for this feature TREES BEES USE
Request fora borehole
for support
equipment. We want to boost our production to raise more bees, crops and flowers.
The two major drawbacks we face are shortage of water and money to buy new equipment. To drill and activate a 60 m borehole we need 9800. If we manage to raise the money to provide the borehole it will allow us to greatly expand our
I write to formally request all readers and well-wishers for financial and material assistance to sink a deep
borehole at our high school. We are ar school with a staff of seven and 100-150 pupils. The curriculum covers eight subjects to ‘O’ level standard. Our practical agricultural work has led to the development of many farming issues. We
have eight hectares of land set aside for building and farming. Over half of this area is unused due to shortages of cash and
agricultural programme.
Thank you for your assistance. H H Mandizvidza, Head of Department, Nyadzonya Secondary School, Zimbabwe c/o
Bees for Development. A Bees for Development publication
ww
BEEKEEPING
