tsc91 9 Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 (edited) I've seen these often enough in the woods but never knew what they were. If you step on them they usually crunch. Step on them fast enough they sometimes pop. They're hollow, and seem to have the consistency of a dried leaf. Is it a seed, a cocoon, or something that came out of the south end of an animal heading north? I should mention that I find them in the woods of northern PA. Edited April 20, 2013 by tsc91 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Syndicate 812 Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 what's the inside like? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tsc91 9 Posted April 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 what's the inside like? Pretty much hollow. I'll have to go back and cut one open to check it out again. They're so common out in the woods around here that I'm a bit embarassed to not know what they are. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sunnybean 939 Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 Need to see the inner nut, or a leaf. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
El Cabron 91 Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 It's not a seed; it appears to be an oak "apple" gall, caused by the activity of a parasitic wasp. Leaf galls are fairly common on some tree leaves, but they're not as large and conspicuous as this type. http://www.hsu.edu/pictures.aspx?id=1670 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Syndicate 812 Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 looks like a fungus I've seen Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sim_Player 1,939 Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 I've seen those too and always wondered.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tsc91 9 Posted April 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 It's not a seed; it appears to be an oak "apple" gall, caused by the activity of a parasitic wasp. Leaf galls are fairly common on some tree leaves, but they're not as large and conspicuous as this type. http://www.hsu.edu/pictures.aspx?id=1670 That's it, and thank you El Cabron! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hallow 4 Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 Its a fungi, type of mushroom I think? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scoutjoe 276 Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 Definately a gouty oak gall...they are pretty common. Look like this when they are still on the leaf But whadda I know I'm just a dumb forester 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
red308 54 Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 I've always wondered what those where and caused from. when i was a kid we always looked for them on the ground so we could step on them and make them pop. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Deadeye 325 Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 we alwase called them oak balls as kids Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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