Gutta-Percha Tree

Isonandra gutta, also called Palaquium gutta or gutta percha tree, belongs to the family Sapotaceae. It is a tree originating in the Malay Peninsula, whose sap is used to produce a latex called gutta percha. This latex was widely used in the nineteenth century in a broad range of applications, such as electrical insulation, dentistry, and more, until it came to be generally replaced by synthetic materials.

Palaquium gutta is an evergreen that grows up to about 65 ft. (20 m) tall and produces small white flowers.