Ok so i was walking around in just a wooded area in Northern Cincinnati Ohio USA and i stumbled upon this on a branch. I took multiple pictures of it but was rather leery in touching it. http://th05.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2011/093/0/5/trees_armour_001_by_souldysfunction-d3d54er.jpg http://th05.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/i/2011/093/c/3/trees_armour_002_by_souldysfunction-d3d54kq.jpg
Whoa! Scary. All I can think of is some bizarre species of tree gall. Some of these look pretty weird. Do you have any idea of the tree's identity? And: welcome to the Forum, fellow Buckeye!
Ok so i took your suggestion and googled the heck out of 'tree gall' and come across Horned Oak Gall. I think this is our spiny devil... http://www.flickr.com/photos/eye_gillian/286824410/ http://web.extension.illinois.edu/jackson/downloads/5600.pdf Thanks tons for the help!!!! I have never heard of tree gall before and yes they are very disturbing looking!!!!!
By Jove---I think you've got it! Gaahh! Yeah, I know nature's great and all...but...ugh. I admire your bravery in lingering to take photos of the thing, rather than running away from it!
ugh? No way, I think that's cool! Something new to me at least, I have never seen that particular beast before.