Early explorers in North America found numbers of pines stripped of their bark by Native Americans. The primary reason Native Americans did this was
A) they wanted the bark for fuel.
B) they were tapping the resin for various uses.
C) they were trying to kill bark borer beetles.
D) they used the phloem for food.
E) they used the bark for shelter thatching.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Native Americans stripped the bark from pines to access the phloem layer beneath, which they used as a food source, especially in times of scarcity. The phloem contains sugars and nutrients that the tree transports from the leaves to other parts.

Early Explorers in North America Found Numbers of Pines Stripped