SAP

A clandestine partisan organization operating in the Italian resistance. It was involved in mobilization and sabotage and was first active in the Emilia-Romagna area in 1944, spreading later to the rest of N Italy.

This occurs when sap (technically a latex) oozes from wounds or cankers as a reaction to outside stimuli such as adverse weather conditions, infections, insect attacks, or other mechanical damage. In many species, the sticky nature of sap has the effect of plugging wounds and thus detering attacks by insects, bacteria and fungi.

Maple tree sap is the basic ingredient in maple syrup. The sap of the rubber tree is used to make latex, which is vulcanized to make rubber. Spruce gum is another tree sap that was used by Anishinaabe peoples in Canada for small quick repairs to wood articles.

Sap has also been helpful in preserving insects from the past. Years later, when the sap has hardened into amber, scientist can study the insects (and occasionally other types of organisms), that were preserved inside.

Other non-tree plants also have sap, such as euphorbias (including poinsettias) and milkweeds, although the word sap is commonly only used to refer to trees.

In some countries (e.g., Latvia) it is usual to collect the sap of birch trees for human consumption (the sap is extracted during spring and can be used fresh or fermented).