The rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, gets its nickname the “Crying tree” based on how it “bleeds” latex. This name is derived from the South American name of the tree, which is caoutchouc (or caa-o-chu), which means “weeping tree” or “crying tree” in literal translation. When the bark of the rubber tree is tapped, the white milky latex drips out in the form of teardrops.