I found this interesting growth in the woods on a recent walk. It's a bit of a mystery. At first, I thought it was an egg shell. But, an internet search reveals more intriguing answers. My searches identified it as an Oak Apple Gall. There are plenty of oak trees along this path. But, they don't seem to have much gall. They just stand there and sway a bit in the wind. But, an oak apple or oak gall is created when a tiny gall wasp lays eggs in the tissue of an oak tree. The oak grows an abnormal ball around the wasp larvae that shelters them and provides sustenance until they hatch.
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| Oak Apple Gall |
Then, when the larvae are mature enough, they chew their way out and the Oak Apple Gall falls away to dry completely out on the forest floor.
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