April 29, 2012 Trees that Bleed

[Wombat]

Originally Posted by sandypossum

We have a wood fired stove. Last year Mr Possum (my other half) was splitting some sort of dry eucalyptus logs with a log splitter and blood gushed out. It was about a cup full of it, fresh blood consistency, bright red, and it came from inside the wood. He was really shaken the first time it happened, as he thought there must have been a hollow in it with an animal inside, but it was just some sort of sap. It happened a few times with some other logs in the same batch. Each time it was a fright. Anyone here know what kind of wood it could have been? I live in south eastern Australia, and it probably would have been a local species if that helps.

I've had that happen too while splitting logs near Adaminaby in NSW. Probably common, but I don't know what causes it.