Rubberwood [Hevea brasiliensis]

Rubberwood comes from the Hevea Brasiliensis tree prized for its latex sap, which is used to produce rubber.  Though the tree produces latex sap, there is no latex or rubber in the harvested wood product.  This beautiful wood ranges in color from light blonde to medium tan, sometimes with medium brown streaks. Grain is straight, with a somewhat coarse, open texture, and low natural luster. It stains and finishes well, and has very little shrinkage making it one of the more stable construction materials available for furniture manufacturing.  Rubberwood is also one of the greenest hardwoods for use in manufacturing because of the fact that it is harvested from 25 year-old trees that are at the end of their latex-producing years, and that would otherwise be burned.