rubber plant

noun

1. a plant, Ficus elastica, of the mulberry family, having oblong, shining, leathery leaves, growing native as a tall tree in India, the Malay Archipelago, etc., used as a source of rubber and cultivated in Europe and America as an ornamental house plant.
2. any plant yielding caoutchouc or India rubber.

rubber plant

noun

1. a moraceous plant, Ficus elastica , with glossy leathery leaves: a tall tree in India and Malaya, it is cultivated as a house plant in Europe and America
2. See rubber tree
   any of several tropical trees, the sap of which yields rubber See also rubber tree

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubber plant¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Also known as a baby rubber plant or radiator plant, peperomia requires little care, making it a great starter plant, just like the pothos.

From Popular-Science

These efforts began in the early 1960s when YAF first attempted to intervene in deals between American Motors, Firestone Tire and Soviet satellite states, specifically lobbing Firestone to halt construction on a rubber plant in Romania.

From Washington Post

She had been to the world beyond the Venetians, the white muslin curtains and the india-rubber plant, and she told me her report.

From Project Gutenberg

I guess he thought he wasn't going to have any home at all when he saw you two in there with the rubber plant.

From Project Gutenberg

Dat's his bestest rubber plant what he tol' me to take partic'lar care of.

From Project Gutenberg

Mun Bun was staring with all his eyes (and he had two very bright ones) at the rubber plant.

From Project Gutenberg

Bushes which yield acid, suitable for coagulating the milk of the rubber plant, grow alongside.

From Project Gutenberg