Marsdenia verrucosa

Botanical Description

Marsdenia verrucosa varies in habit according to its surroundings. Left to its own devices it becomes a low-growing shrub, but when growing next to a tree it can become a vigorous climber, growing to the top of the tree. The plant is harvested from the wild for its latex, which can be used to make rubber; the plant also has local medicinal uses. The plant was an important producer of rubber in Madagascar before the Brazilian rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) became by far the most important rubber-producing plant - it is little, if at all, utilized at present.