Although not limited to the Euphorbiaceae, latex production is one of its distinguishing characteristics. The plants of the Euphorbiaceae family are mostly monoecious herbs, shrubs, and trees, sometimes succulent and cactus-like, and comprise one of the largest families of plants with about 300 genera and 7,500 species that are further characterized by the frequent occurrence of milky sap. The flowering and pollination of the Hevea brasiliensis tree are also distinguishing characteristics of this plant. Hevea may undergo two flowerings. The inflorescence is a panicle of separate staminate and pistillate flowers borne in the axils of basal leaves of new shoots that grow out after wintering.
Pistillate flowers are terminal to the central stem and other major branches of the inflorescence.
Smaller and more numerous staminate flowers make up the rest. Both flowers are shortly stalked and scented. Neither flower has petals but rather five triangular lobes. Staminate flowers have two rings of five stamens each borne on a stalk. Pistillate flowers have a compound ovary with three locules topped by three sticky, sessile stigmas.