That is definitely a rubber plant, Ficus elastica. Out of curiosity, how does what you know as a rubber plant differ?

Anyway, they can be slow to root. If it were my cutting, I wouldn't try it in water. Instead I would root it in moist perlite, vermiculite, or a mixture of the two. I would also enclose the cutting, pot and all, in a plastic bag, to hold in humidity and prevent wilting. Trim off the rotting part of the stem and use rooting hormone. And I would keep it in a bright area with no direct sunlight.

Finally to put Photobucket photos directly in your Garden Web posts, copy and paste from the box labeled HTML Code that is directly under your photos when you view your album.

Thank you, Karen, for your speedy response!

I was told the following plant was a rubber plant. I questioned it a little when I couldn't find any pictures with striking similarity. The closest I could come visually was a prayer plant, but mine obviously doesn't have the same leaf pattern as a prayer plant. This one doesn't have the same leaf eruption from the stalk as the rubber plant mentioned above. I was planning to post again some other time regarding ID's on this and a few others that I've recieved this year.

As a note, I don't believe that the leaves are supposed to curl under as you can see them doing in the first picture. This was due to light coming in at about 90 degrees to the plant. Since moving to a new place in the house, it has straightened out a bit.

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Lexie

The plant in your picture is a Dieffenbachia. I've never heard it referred to as a Rubber Plant; it is sometimes referred to as Dumb Cane.

Though I think that your cutting is a goner by now, it would be worth a try at resuscitation. ;-) Remove the cutting from the water and take an inch or more from the bottom. Remove the bottom two or three leaves (with scissors), then insert the (now longer) stalk into some fresh potting medium in which you've added a handful of perlite. Or, you could even use just plain perlite for the rooting. Water thoroughly, allowing the excess
water to drain away. Place the container in a warm location with relatively low light. Do NOT keep checking for roots. Each and every time you will do that, the tiny hair roots will be broken off. The plant will tell you when it has rooted by its appearance. Keep moist.

Your rubber plant is so badly wilted because the stem has started to rot. There is a 'chance' that cutting the stem above the dead portion, and using solid medium, rather than water, as well as a much smaller cutting, that it will form roots.

Thanks Karen and rhizo! Since each of you suggested pretty much the same thing for attempting to root this guy, I think I'll go ahead and get it going this weekend.

I really appreciate your help. If anyone else has any suggestions, though, I'm still open!