WHATIZIT ? Unusual acorn

[formariz 11,987]

To my knowledge I have only ever seen this type of oak grow here. Most times it grows low as a shrub and as a tree it is not very tall. It is a prolific producer of these very unique and peculiar acorns. They are not a two part acorn as usual but rather a large ball with some “spikes” on top. They start off green in color and as they grow eventually turn brown . However same tree will also grow regular acorns.  Can someone tell what is going on here?

Edited October 16, 2021 by formariz

[Stormin 9,981]

This it??

Quercus coccifera Kermes oak - Euforgen

[formariz 11,987]

1 hour ago, Stormin said:

This it??

Quercus coccifera Kermes oak - Euforgen

Not that one. Leaves are not spiny. They have round smooth lobes like a white oak. Growth patterns and habits are similar however.

The curious and unusual thing however is the “acorn”. It will also grow an actual regular acorn at the same time. Upon some research I now learned that that “acorn” is not an actual acorn.

Can someone figure out what it is? Peculiar also is that It seems that it only happens on that type of species or similar one. 

Edited October 16, 2021 by formariz

[cschannuth 3,816]

I have an app on my phone that can identify plants and this is what it came up with. It is usually pretty accurate.

[formariz 11,987]

The actual oak is easy to identify and it is indeed in the White Oak family. But what is the strange “ fruit” it produces?????

[SylvanLakeWH 25,600]

1 hour ago, cschannuth said:

I have an app on my phone that can identify plants and this is what it came up with. It is usually pretty accurate.

can you provide name of app?

 

that’s cool!!!

[pacer 3,173]

I have one -- called "plant net" Seems to work pretty well, some times it will give so many 'scientific' names its a bit difficult to actually 'name' the plant!

[lynnmor 7,308]

Oak apple

Oak apples are galls caused by the tiny larvae of the gall wasp, Andricus kollari. The insect lives within the oak apple and bores a hole to the outside world when it is fully mature. Green when young, the oak apples turn brown and become very hard as they dry out during the summer months.

 

[formariz 11,987]

There you go. I just recently learned what they are. Here these trees are so loaded with them that most think that it is the fruit. They actually grow more of them than they do acorns. When a child my mother actually used them as decorations on the Christmas tree, wrapping them in tiny aluminum or golden foil that was used to wrap candy. There wasn’t much and everything was saved and repurposed. Great memories.

[cschannuth 3,816]

3 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

provide name of app?

Picture This is the name of it. It’s pretty neat.