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Name: Patricia
Status: other
Grade:
Location: CO
Country: USA
Date: Summer 2010
Question:
What is the difference between "tapping" a tree and "bleeding" a tree? I have done some research on this, but the question is nagging me and I would like to get your expert opinion.


Replies:
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/English/science_general/3960322-bleeding_a_tree.html

Anthony R. Brach, Ph.D.
Harvard University Herbaria c/o
Missouri Botanical Garden

Patricia

I don't believe many people distinguish between bleeding a tree and tapping a tree. But for those who wish to be precise I found this distinction on the Internet:

Tapping a tree:

http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/Buds_and_Bark/tapping_sugar
_maple_index.html

Bleeding a tree:
If you have a bleeding tree, then your tree has likely started suffering from some sort of ailment. A bleeding tree will have sap dripping out of it and the sap may run out over the sides of the tree and down the trunk.

See:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4453389_avoid-bleeding-tree.html

Apparently, both bleeding and tapping have the same result of removing the sap of the tree. Tapping a tree is a deliberate process whereas a bleeding tree is a tree that is oozing sap without human assistance. Tapping a tree is removing sap from a tree to make a product like rubber or maple syrup is done to produce a product while keeping the tree alive, whereas a bleeding tree is a dying tree. But I don't think this distinction is widely known or agreed to.

Sincere regards,

Mike Stewart


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