In Taylor Creek Park we came across some unusual trees with leaves shaped like birch or cottonwood. However they produced a very bizarre looking seed pod (see picture). It is about 7 cm in diameter with curly woody spines sticking out all over it. Imbedded in each pod are about 5-7 seeds that kind of look like hazelnuts. I looked it up in my Trees in Canada book but I couldn't find an equivalent so it is likely non-native. If any tree experts out there have a clue, let me know.
Unknown seed pod. Can you identify it?
5 comments:
I've consulted with some friends and have an initial guess of European Beech. Someone's checking with the curator of a herbarium -- I'll get back to you with the results!
Alan S. Weakley, Curator of University of North Carolina Herbarium in Chapel Hill: I'm pretty sure this is a teratological Corylus (hazelnut). Because of a virus or fungus, the normal bracts enclosing the nut are going crazy.
Thanks for your comments. I am going to visit the tree again and take a closer look.
Wow, what a surprise to encounter a picture of what I think I have right beside me on my desk. It was among odds and ends my housemate left behind when she moved out. I will check on the dimensions you are describing and maybe have an answer to my own puzzle.
Looks like a filbert nut (hazelnut) in Oregon we grow a lot of them... take care.
Hiedi in Eugene Oregon
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