siphonia elastica

1 definition found

siphonia elastica - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Caoutchouc \Caout"chouc\, n. [F. caoutchouc, from the South
     American name.]
     A tenacious, elastic, gummy substance obtained from the milky
     sap of several plants of tropical South America (esp. the
     euphorbiaceous tree Siphonia elastica or Hevea caoutchouc
     ), Asia, and Africa. Being impermeable to liquids
     and gases, and not readly affected by exposure to air, acids,
     and alkalies, it is used, especially when vulcanized, for
     many purposes in the arts and in manufactures. Also called
     India rubber (because it was first brought from India, and
     was formerly used chiefly for erasing pencil marks) and gum elastic
     . See Vulcanization.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Mineral caoutchouc. See under Mineral.
        [1913 Webster]