Laticifers

Laticifers are specialized plant cells or ducts that synthesize and transport latex, a milky or colored sap produced by many plant species. They form a network that can extend throughout stems, leaves, roots, and sometimes fruits, and occur in diverse families such as Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae, Apocynaceae, Papaveraceae, and Asteraceae. The latex serves primarily in plant defense, containing a mixture of water, polysaccharides, terpenoids, alkaloids, proteins, and latex particles, including rubber in some species.

Structural forms of laticifers are traditionally categorized as non-articulated and articulated. Non-articulated laticifers consist of a single, very long cell or a group of closely linked cells that function as one duct. Articulated laticifers are formed by a series of cells connected end-to-end, creating a continuous tube through which latex can move, often with openings between cells that allow flow.

Anatomically, laticifers may be located in the phloem, cortex, pith, or other tissues, and their distribution varies widely among taxa. Latex is typically released when the plant tissue is damaged, acting to deter herbivores and pathogens and to seal wounds through coagulation or thickening.

Economic significance arises from latex-rich species such as Hevea brasiliensis, the primary source of natural rubber, and other latex-producing plants used for gums, resins, or specialty metabolites. The study of laticifers intersects plant anatomy, physiology, and chemistry, highlighting their role in defense and resource storage.