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Which tree provides most of the latex used to make natural rubber?

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The tree that provides almost all of the latex used to produce natural rubber is Hevea brasiliensis.1

While other plants are capable of producing rubber, Hevea brasiliensis is the only species used by the industry due to its superior efficiency. Native to South America, this member of the Euphorbiaceae family is now primarily cultivated on plantations in Southeast Asia and western Africa.12

When the bark of the tree is tapped, it exudes a milky liquid containing approximately 30 percent rubber, which consists of an aqueous suspension of cis-polyisoprene particles. This latex is collected and processed into various solid products, such as tires, or concentrated for use in dipped goods like surgical gloves.23