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** rubber is a natural latex (a milky-substance, like sap, that is derived from certain tropical trees) | ** rubber is a natural latex (a milky-substance, like sap, that is derived from certain tropical trees) | ||
*** most modern rubber is derived from the Rubber Tree, a native plant of the Amazon (the Rubber Tree can grow to 140 feet) | *** most modern rubber is derived from the Rubber Tree, a native plant of the Amazon (the Rubber Tree can grow to 140 feet) | ||
*** | * see | ||
** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hevea_brasiliensis Heva Brasiliensis (wiki)] for the story of this important plant | |||
** https://www.oringsusa.com/Rubber_Intro.pdf Brief History of Rubber (originsusa.com)] | |||
** earliest documented use of natural latex (rubber) was by the Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica (central America) | ** earliest documented use of natural latex (rubber) was by the Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica (central America) | ||
*** the Olmec and, later, Maya and Aztec, used rubber for balls for sports | *** the Olmec and, later, Maya and Aztec, used rubber for balls for sports |