AP Biology Plant Questions?

Question

In the northeastern United States, you tap a maple tree in late February. What are you actually harvesting from the tree?

Answer 1

You are harvesting the sap rising from the roots to the branches.  The ingredient in this sap that is valuable is its sugar.  The sugar was stored in the roots over winter and is then mobilized to support bud growth in the spring.  There are other minor constituents to the sap that add the maply flavor to the syrup or candy produced by removal of water from the sap by boiling.