It can be termed as the most far reaching and successful of introductions in plant history resulting in plantations over 9.3 million hectares, 95 per cent of it across the globe in Asia.

Hevea brasiliensis, also known as the Para rubber tree after the Brazilian port of Para, is a quick growing, fairly sturdy, perennial tree of a height of 25 to 30 metres. It has a straight trunk and thick, somewhat soft, light brownish gray bark.
The rubber tree may live for a hundred years or even more. But its economic life period in plantations, on general considerations is, only around 32 years - 7 years of immature phase and 25 years of productive phase.

Commercial cultivation of rubber in India was started in 1902.