Strange flower/tree bud I keep finding on the woodland floor

[awarner]

No idea what these are, looks like a clover flower head but the stalk is thick and woody, I keep finding these in an area of my wood populated with oak, ash, hazel and field maple but only in one section of the woods. I wonder if the squirrels are responsible?
Any thoughts or ideas post away.


EDIT see post "8" I have now identified this as an artichoke gall from an oak tree.

 

[Drain Bamaged]

it looks a bit like the dried flower heads of Knapweed.

D.B.

 

[scarfell]

yeah looks like Knapweed; nasty plant ripping through our country and slowly choking native plants ..is it your own woodland? if so, might want to look into control methods asap if its a new occurrence (but I think its been established in the south for quite a while already?)

 

[Drain Bamaged]

Common Knapweed is a brilliant plant, native, and used by loads of insects and birds....becoming less 'common' because of farming methods and control.

D.B.

 

[Leshy]

Common Knapweed is a brilliant plant, native, and used by loads of insects and birds....becoming less 'common' because of farming methods and control.

D.B.

@ Scarfel



DB is right here.
I think the invasive species you're thinking of is the giant hogweed, nasty stuff can blister your skin just by touching the stuff, and does indeed "choke" up other plants nearby mainly because of its sheer size.
Non native and invading at an alarming rate.


And I agree with everyone saying those look like knapweed heads.
I didn't think they dropped like that, maybe animal/human interaction is the reason for finding those like that.
But what animal? And why?

The plot thickens Dr. Watson...

 

[scarfell]

Yep think you are right, confusing with Japanese knotweed (guessing that's giant knotweed); apologies for misinformation!

 

[awarner]

There are no knapweeds in this area, plenty of goosegrass, bluebells and wood anemones earlier on in the year.
If it is knapweed then squirrels would have to be collecting them from the nearby field and carrying them into the woods.
Another area I know contains knapweed but I've not seen any sign of the heads in the woods nearby.

Very strange

 

[awarner]

Mystery over, I have now found these attached to oak so fairly sure they are the artichoke gall.
Not one I've heard of before until hunting the internet for oak galls.