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
But what about the noise of crumpling paper which he used to do in order to paint the series of "Papiers froissés" or tearing up paper to make "Papiers déchirés?" Arp was stimulated by water (sea, lake, and flowing waters like rivers), forests the letters sent as response to one of John Cage's letters made by Greta Ströh, the director of the Arp Foundation at the time. Even though Cage's inspiration came through the works by Arp, the composition is dedicated to Les Percussions de Strasbourg. This piece features what are often called by John Cage "sounds of nature", which consist of sounds that resemble environments, and use word in his music, therefore blurring the line between music and literature, as he did in "Child of Tree", "Food" and "Ryoanji". This piece was finished in August 1985 and was published that same year