Andy Clark, age 11, of Dotham, Ala.,  for his question:

WHAT IS LATEX?

Latex is a milky fluid found in specialized cells, called lactiferous cells, of many higher plants. Latex is found in most species of the milkweed, dogbane, sapodilla, spurge, mulberry, poppy and chicory.

Latex, a polymer dispersed in water, contains a complex emulsion composed of varying proportions of gums, resins, tannins, alkaloids, proteins, starches, sugars and oils. It is usually white, but in a few plants it may be yellow, orange or red.

Many commercial gums, including rubber, chicle and chewing gum, are products made from refined latex. However, latex is now also produced synthetically for many commercial products.

The growth function of latex is not entirely understood by botanists. In some plants, latex is exuded at the site of wounds forming a protective layer. The latex in several plants is bitter or poisonous, providing a fortress of defense against insects and animals.