Viewing post #328919 by growitall

kqcrna said:From a common sense point of view, it just seems more realistic that, for the amount of sap needed to manufacture latex products, one could get a lot more sap from a rubber tree than a little garden euphorbia plant. Or even a big euphorbia plant.

Admittedly, taxomony mystifies me. But as for rubber tree being in the genus Hevea, isn't the genus hevea in the euphorbiacea family?
http://www.theplantlist.org/br...

I'm no expert on this, but bottom line, if I had a true latex allergy I wouldn't mess with any plant in the euphorbiaecea family. A true latex allergy is life threatening. Anyone who thinks they might have an allergy should be tested. Various skin exposure can result in dermatitis from things (like rubber gloves) that might exacerbate reactions, but should be tested. (An incorrect label of "latex allergy" isn't something you want when you need medical treatment).

Karen

Also from the common sense point of view, it would make a lot more sense to make rubber from plants that don't contain harmful compounds in the latex - this seems to distinguish Havea and some other genera that have been used to make latex from the genus Euphorbia, which is really all I'm pointing out. :smily:

When discussing plants, it can be important not to paint an entire family (e.g. Euphorbiaceae) with the same brush; not every genus within a family has the same characteristics, or even every species, for that matter. For example, we eat certain parts of certain members of genus Solanum with impunity (tomatoes, potatoes) but that doesn't mean all Solanaceae are edible.

Yes, virginiarose, that is what I'm trying to say. Sorry that I have been unclear about it.