A mystery nut tree.
That reigns filbert (hazelnut) shaped nuts down on the ground. The squirrels LOVE them.
So I grabbed some from the ground and thought "Yay! Hazelnuts! Score!", cracked it open...
And got this.
What. The Fuck. Is This.
I have looked all over the corners of the internet, browsed my Western Garden Book, and asked the botanist GM - all to no avail. I don't know what this is!
Husk and shell are that of a Hazelnut. Inside is that of a squishy elongated tiny peanut. With a point. I know most nuts are soft fresh out of the shell and need to harden, so the squish factor is not throwing me off. It's the shape. What's up with the shape?
What. The Fuck. Is This.
And perhaps more importantly, can I eat it?
Thoughts, Internet Buddies? Ideas? Anyone? Beuller, Beuller...?
Try your local co-op extension. I have no idea, other than maybe they're not ripe yet, so the nut isn't fully developed?
ReplyDeleteGood idea! I've also got master gardeners at the farmer's market I sell soap at - they can surely identify!
DeletePost a pic of the tree's leaf?
ReplyDeleteRoger, lady. I'll go pluck some tonight and post directly. I will send you soap if you can help me identify!
DeleteThe only things I thought of were (1) undeveloped, as ADoc suggested, or (2) one that didn't develop properly. Or did you open a bunch and they were all like that?
ReplyDeleteAfter being here three years I discovered we have a young hazelnut tree - I was just really, really slow to realize those strange hazelnut-looking things that fell from it really WERE hazelnuts! Duh....
i have no idea. but confusion is my normal reaction when presented with nuts.
ReplyDelete....maybe ask at the Wednesday Fresh Foods Blog Hop this week? (no shameless plug there at all).