Eastern White Pine Tree Resin (Sap)

This pine tree looked like it had been healthy, but was unlucky enough to have been felled by the elements during a recent storm. The sap was pouring out of its wounds and glistened beautifully in the sunshine.

Pine trees are very resilient, coniferous trees. Like most trees, they produce sap. Sap is essential to a tree because although the roots are responsible for taking in water and nutrients, the sap is the stuff that actually spreads these nutrients throughout the tree.

Pine tree sap has numerous uses - including use as glue, making turpentine and candles, starting fires, and waterproofing baskets, pails, and boats. Interestingly, the Chippewa also used pine sap to treat infections and even gangrenous wounds. This is because pine sap apparently has a number of efficient antimicrobials.

Habitat: Mixed forest