Rubber comes from the latex (sap) of a large tree (Hevea brasiliensis). Its first use was for
erasers, for rubbing out pencil marks. Invention of the pneumatic tire such as on cars and bicycles led to
its being essential to industrial economies. This product was of major importance to the industrial
revolution and played a central role in the early commercialization of the Amazon region. It remained an
essential international commodity until the development of synthetic alternatives. The one inch long seeds
are commonly used in handicrafts, such as necklaces.
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