Common Name: Panama Rubber Tree

General Information

Castilla elastica is a deciduous to evergreen tree with a large, spreading crown, it usually grows from 10 - 30 metres tall but exceptionally to 60 metres. The bole can be 30 - 90cm in diameter, with buttresses forming at the base of large trees[, , ]. The trees usually lose their leaves toward the end of the dry season, and produce their flowers at the same time[].
The plant has long been used by local people as a source of latex[]. At one time it was widely exploited commercially, but was eventually mainly superseded by the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis[]. It is still occasionally cultivated as a crop[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Northern S. America, through central America to southern Mexico.

Habitat

Openings in moist lowland forest[]. Common in dry or wet forests or in thickets in the lowlands of Guatemala, sometimes planted on ranches at somewhat higher elevations, usually found at elevations below 300 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Semi-deciduous Tree
Height	25.00 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Wind, ?Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Castilla elastica is a plant of the moist, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 23 - 30°c, but can tolerate 15 - 34°c[]. It can be killed by temperatures of 10°c or lower[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,300 - 2,700mm, but tolerates 2,000 - 3,000mm[].
Grows best in a rich, well-drained soil in a sunny position[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.5 - 7[].
Tapping of the trees for their latex can commence 7 years after planting[].
Plants have become invasive in some areas[].
A fast growing tree[].
Individual plants can either produce only male flowers (dioecious) or they can produce both male and female flowers (monoecious)[, ].

Edible Uses

The succulent fruit has a sweetish flavour[]. The ellipsoid reddish fruit is about 4cm in diameter[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Members of this genus have a root system that consists of a rather short tap root and of several lateral roots spreading horizontally and so near the surface of the soil that they can often be followed for 20 to 30 metres[]. This root system makes it difficult to grow other crops under the tree[].

Other Uses

A good quality latex can be tapped from the trunk[, ]. Produced copiously, trees 8 - 10 years old can yield up to 25kg of latex a year[]. Once harvested, the rubbery latex dries to become tough and resilient[]. The latex can be used commercially, and is also much used by local people who made items such as bouncing balls, waterproofing fabrics, artefacts etc[]. The latex is often tinted with natural dyes and used to make local handcrafts[].
The latex has been much used in Mesoamerica for making rain capes or coats, which in these tropical regions are much superior for shedding rain to anything brought from Europe or North America, because the latex withstands combined heat and moisture. The white sap flows freely when any part of the tree is cut, and coagulates upon exposure to air. To hasten its coagulation various substances often are added to it, particularly the sap of Calonyction and other plants in the Convolvulaceae[].

The pale grey bark is fibrous. It strips off the trunk easily and is used to make cord[]. The bark is beaten to make into mats, blankets and clothing[, , , ].

The wood is yellow brown to creamy white, with little difference between sapwood and heartwood. It is moderately soft, light in weight, fairly straight-grained with a rather coarse texture. Rather tough and strong for its weight, it is easy to cut but is not durable[, ]. It is used chiefly for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe because it has a short viability[].

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