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A cell or a linked complex of cells containing a milky liquid called latex and penetrating various tissues in certain plants. A laticifer consisting of a single cell is referred to as simple, whereas a joined complex is termed compound. Laticifers may be further classified as articulated (branched) or nonarticulated (unbranched). Sometimes the end walls between the elements of a compound laticifer break down forming a continuous tube, sometimes referred to as a laticiferous vessel. A laticifer enclosed by a ray is termed a latex tube. Laticifers are present in many plants, such as the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, rubber being the latex secreted by the laticifers and tapped by cutting through the bark.
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