What could this be? I found an unusual fruit in the grass in my yard. I can describe it. ?

Question

I found a strange fruit lying on the ground near an oak tree in my backyard. I've seen them before. They usually appear in late summer or early fall. The fruit is round, and either pink or red, with white or cream-colored speckles and splotches. They're about the size of a medium-sized marble (0.5"-1.0" across) They're kind of hard, like an apple, but when I stepped on one, it yielded a red juice. I don't know what tree yields this fruit; the only trees we have in the backyard are oak, birch, and maple trees. However, there is a large wooded area at the edge of the property, so I'm thinking it came from somewhere in there. Anyone have any idea what this weird fruit could be? Thanks!

Answer 1

galls

Answer 2

It's very likely an oak gall.  They're formed when a gall wasp lays an egg on the leaf of an oak.  The larval wasp develops inside the gall.  Galls come in various shapes and colors.  The one you described is the most common that I've observed.  This site has some photos and describes how galls are formed.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/images/41777617...

Answer 3

sounds like a muskadine does it smell really good and kinda like a grape.. if it is they are delicious...they grow on a vine and grow up trees usually..They ripen in early September,or late August.