I did not find this, but a friend did, and he asked me what it was. A little searching determined that it is the Acorn Plum Gall caused by the Acorn Plum Gall Wasp, Amphibolips quercusjuglans
Each ball is about 3/4 - 1 inch in diameter. I suspect it gets the name from the purpleish color. You can see the collection of various-aged galls that Fred made.
The clincher for the ID as a gall was when he cut them open. That round center with the radiating rays is characteristic.
I checked where in the world this particular gall is found, and sure enough, it's been noted here, so I think that clinches it.
The little wasp that lays an egg in the plant tissue which causes the tree to produce the gall is tiny and never bothers humans. Interestingly, this gall is only found on oaks in the red oak family- the ones with sharp points on the leaf tips.
Photo credits to Fred Hayward.
In other news. I have the workshop program pretty well done, and started on another editing job. That one will go with me.
 | See Oak Apple Gall
See Succulent Oak Gall |
3 comments:
how interesting
Ann- I love galls and other freakish things plants do in response to stresses.
Chaplin: "Woo-hoo! All-natural cat toys!"
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