Gutta-percha

Uncommon card · No. 135592

Gutta-percha is a tree of the genus Palaquium in the family Sapotaceae, which is primarily used to create a high-quality latex of the same name. Most commonly sourced from Palaquium gutta, the material is rigid, naturally biologically inert, resilient, electrically nonconductive, and thermoplastic; it is a polymer of isoprene which forms a rubber-like elastomer. The word "gutta-percha" comes from the plant's name in Malay: getah translates as 'sticky gum' and pertja (perca) is the name of a less-sought-after gutta tree. The western term therefore is likely a derivative amalgamation of the original native names.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Franz Eugen Köhler, Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen, Public domain