For the last two yrs I have found a round variegated fruit on the ground at the ranch.
It is dark red and tan in color (mostly red) and varies in size, 5/8 to 3/4 of and inch.
Its always been found on the ground in a heavily wooded area and I have never been able to locate the source.
I've mostly oaks and ash trees, soil ph is high and can be rocky.
I cut one open just now and it is yellow inside but turned brown in short time. Maybe 15-30 minutes.
Yes, I had to tasted it... bitter.
Any clues?

I'll try to post a pic of one.

Try coyote melon. Or a related species within Cucurbitaceae in the genus Melothria.

Get a picture of a whole one and a picture of one sliced lengthwise and another sliced cross-section.

Quick, poor image...

The upper two halves have been sliced open since the first post.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Crabapple?

I didn't know that Richard Simmons was lost!!!

__________________

M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
.'76 - 450SLC - 107.024.12 / < .89.20 K
..'77 - 280E - 123.033.12 / > 128.20 K
...'67 - El Camino - 283ci / > 207.00 K
....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
.....'87 - G20 Sportvan / > 206.00 K
......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
.......'74 - Honda CT70 / Real 125
.
“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

I found a few more today. Ask a few local 'old timers'.

Still a mystery...

Those look to me like insect galls. There are several species of insects that lay their eggs on tip or flower buds of oaks (yes, oaks have flowers). As the insect develops it's waste acts like a growth hormone on the plant forcing extremely rapid cell growth and division in the epidermis. Since the growth and divisions are equal in all directions with respect to the maggot's waste, the gall is usually spherical. Mature galls have a tough epidermis, abundant aerenchyma that soon degrades leaving open space with scattered radially disposed vascular bundles attached to the epidermis and to the encysted maggot located in the center of the gall.

Just a guess.

Soapberry? I've been told me there are soapberry trees on the ranch.

I can't find anything online that resembles this thing.

never eat anything that you do not know what it is

Dude.. you licked one!

I'm sure I've licked worse.

psst, psst, psst...

no.. maggot stuff.. nasty man..

Sh#@ happens.

__________________
---------------------------
No matter how many times you explain it to me, I'm still right.....Surf-n-Turf

Eh, it was probably rich in protein.

__________________
1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi