The following are some of the plant families that contain plants, which have latex glands and latex channels distributed in leaf, petioles, stem, even in fruits.

* Asclepediaceae

* Apocyanaceae

* Solanaceae

* Euphorbiaceae

* Sapotaceae

* Anacardiaceae

* Asteraceae

* Cannabaceae

* Aristalocheaceae

* Verbenaceae

and many other plant families

Uses of latex

* Rubber is a latex of Castella elastica, used in a wide range of activities

* The latex of Euphorbia hirta is used in the treatment of warts

* Styrene based latex are used for immune assays

* Opium is the dried latex of Papaver somniferum. Morphine, the wonder drug is derived from opium

* Latex of certain plants is used as a fish poison

* Latex of Semecarpus anacardium is used as a topical rubefacient

* Latex of calotrophis is used extensively in native medicine in the preparation of drugs.

* Mulberry latex is used in the preparation of artificial sweeteners used for Diabetes

Economic Botany

Volume 16, Number 1, 17-24, DOI: 10.1007/BF02986051

Laticiferous plants of economic importance

I. Sources of balata, chicle, guttapercha and allied guttas

Llewelyn Williams