49-FICUS ELASTICA Roxb
Local name: Rabar fig
Family: Moraceae
Location: Rauza Garden
Characters: It is a large tree in the banyan group of figs, growing to 30–40 m (100–130 ft) – rarely up to 60 m or 195 ft – tall, with a stout trunk up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in diameter. The trunk develops aerial and buttressing roots to anchor it in the soil and help support heavy branches. It has broad shiny oval leaves 10–35 cm (4–14 in) long and 5–15 cm (2–6 in) broad; leaf size is largest on young plants (occasionally to 45 cm or 17+1⁄2 in long), much smaller on old trees (typically 10 cm or 4 in long). The leaves develop inside a sheath at the apical meristem, which grows larger as the new leaf develops. When it is mature, it unfurls and the sheath drops off the plant. Inside the new leaf, another immature leaf is waiting to develop.
General use: Ficus Elastica, or rubber plant, is mainly preferred in households and offices as a decorative element for interiors. Ficus Elastica produces white, milky latex, a compound separates from the sap and stored in different cells. Earlier, latex was used for making rubber, but it is different from Pará rubber tree, the commercial source of latex to make rubber. Some plants, such as Ficus Elastica, can eliminate pollutants and harmful toxins. Thus, it is an excellent choice to beautify your house and purify air.