Ficus elastica prefers bright sunlight but not hot temperatures. It has a high tolerance for drought, but prefers humidity and thrives in wet, tropical conditions. Ornamental hybrids (such as Robusta) have been derived from "Ficus elastica" with broader, stiffer and more upright leaves than the wild form. Many such hybrids exist, often with variegated leaves. "Ficus elastica" yields a milky white latex, a chemical compound separate from its sap and carried and stored in different cells. This latex was formerly used to make rubber, but it should not be confused with the Pará rubber tree, the main commercial source of latex for
Ficus subgenus "Sycomorus", and the species of subgenus "Ficus", though the relationships of the sections of these groups to one another are not well resolved. Subgenus "Ficus" Subgenus "Pharmacosycea" Subgenus "Sycidium" Subgenus "Sycomorus" Subgenus "Synoecia" Subgenus "Urostigma" Unknown subgenus Numerous species of fig are found in cultivation in domestic and office environments, including: Fig trees have profoundly influenced culture through several religious traditions. Among the more famous species are the sacred fig tree (Pipal, bodhi, bo, or po, "Ficus religiosa") and the banyan fig ("Ficus benghalensis"). The oldest living plant of known planting date is a "Ficus religiosa" tree known as