The Wood Sower Gall, home to a group of developing Cynipid Wasps, Callirhytis seminator, is found on White Oak. This single tree, about eight feet high, held something like six of these galls. One branch had a double, two in a row, just the way I used to double up marshmallows on a stick over the fire.
Of course, I had to give one a squeeze. Although seemingly soft and fuzzy, they are really quite firm, not at all like marshmallows. No, I didn't taste them. :-)
Whoa! Now these are very cool- and a new one for me! I googled it to see if I could determine if they are found around here in NH and all that I could find were references to our sheep and wool festival (an event I enjoy for the sheepdog trials)! Funny how you found it through google- I have typed in some pretty strange descriptions too, after coming home from my walks-and have had a fairly high success rate!
ReplyDeleteBreak out the chocolate and graham crackers for s'mores- looks like you've got plenty of marshmallows!
~gretchen
Gretchen, it sounds like it may be possible that these galls could be found in your area. That is, if you have White Oaks...
ReplyDeleteFrom the Maine Nature News Vol. 10, no. 31
Tuesday, August 2, 2005:
"In response to K.B.'s question in the reports of June 26, July 5 and July 26: "Cornish (Map 4) I found this weird thing hanging from a leaf on my oak tree . I have no idea what it is. Do you have any ideas? If you do please let me know."
We have a reply from Richard W. Folsom, Assistant Horticulturist and Entomologist of the Division of Plant Industry, Maine Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources:
"The strange thing on your oak leaves is probably wool sower gall caused by the tiny Cynipid wasp Callirhytis seminator. Each of the seed-like structures will have a larvae inside. Put one of the galls in a jar and you will be able to see the adult wasps when they emerge. The gall is not damaging to oak trees.""
http://mainenature.org/archive/8-2-05.htm
I tried doing a bit more research online and I too, came upon the link to 'mainenature.org'. I then turned to my favorite little field guide that rarely lets me down ('Trees and Shrubs of Northern New England', published by the Society of Protection of New Hampshire Forests) and re: the white oak, it says "common in SW Maine, east to lower Penobscot Bay, central and southern New Hampshire and Vermont." It also goes on to say "Not many large trees available in New Hampshire". My Audubon Guide to Trees is a bit more ambiguous, but their tiny map doesn't seem to show the white oak in my area of western NH. I'm willing to bet there are a few here and there in my woods and I will keep my eyes open-nature constantly surprises, doesn't it?
ReplyDelete~gretchen
Indeed. It's never-ending for those who are open to it. :-)
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful John!.. I am just constantly amazed by the ingenuity of it all..
ReplyDeleteIt is such a truly fascinating world--so many creative variations leading to similar outcomes.
ReplyDelete