Sulfosalicylic acid is a trifunctional aromatic compound that undergoes reactions typical of phenols, carboxylic and sulfonic acid moieties. It is used industrially as a chelating agent, an intermediate in the manufacture of surface-active reagents, as an organic catalyst, and grease additive. When recrystallized from the melt, sulfosalicylic acid will slowly crystallize, forming beautiful dendritic needle-like crystals. The time-lapse movie was made using a modified version of the Intel Play QX3 microscope equipped for polarized light illumination with a full-wave (first order) retardation plate.