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Oak Apple

Photo by LarsKorb
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Oak apple is the common name for a large, round, vaguely apple-like gall commonly found on many species of oak. Oak apples range in size from 2-5cm. Oak apples are caused by chemicals injected by the larva of certain kinds of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae.

Notes:

Oak galls have been used in the production of ink since at least the time of the Roman Empire. From the Middle Ages to the early twentieth century iron gall ink was the main medium used for writing in the western world.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
LarsKorb
Late and dry state of the Oak Apple gall
LarsKorb
Thanks, Jeannette - I did not know about them - until yesterday. Someone spotted this and I reminded the common name. Right today I spotted the same :) Random luck.
Jeannette
Very interesting Lars :) I have never seen any, maybe because I didn't know they existed....

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2012 Best Wildlife Photo
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PublishedMarch 10, 2012

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