Gouttes de lumière

Gouttes de résine sur un Sapin de Douglas (Pseudotsuga menziesii) au soleil levant

Resin drops on a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), sunrise

Giant's scale

On the soil lays a small scale. This is a good indication that the conifers around are European silver fir (Abies Alba). It’s a part of its cone and contains two seeds that may end in two new forest giants if germination comes to an end successfully.

Contrary to the Norway spruce (Picea abies) which loses the entire cone, the cone of the silver fir remains on the tree and pieces fall apart.

The other main differences between these too trees are the needles orientation (like two cumbs in the young or lower branches of the silver fir), two clear stripes on the bottom of the needles and cones erected (while hanging in a Norway spruce). The cork and the shape of the tree are also different. 

More trees of the Sant valley

Tree tears

Drops of resin on the trunk of a conifer in the Black Mountain.

Sap and resin are often considered similar. Though they come from the trees, sap and resin show many differences between them. Sap is found in the xylem and phloem cells in trees. The xylem sap mainly consists of water-mineral elements, hormones, and other nutrients. The phloem sap consists mainly of water, hormones, sugar, and other minerals. Resin is a liquid which is stored in the resin ducts of trees. When a tree is cut or when a branch is cut, resin oozes out and clogs the broken area just like the blood clotting in wounds.

Resins have been in use for thousands of years for sealing boats, food containers, in the manufacture of many things like inks, lacquer, varnish, jewelry, sweets and perfumes. Nowadays, synthetic resin is widely used in many products.

More trees of the Sant valley