What in the Woods Is That?

Play our biweekly guessing game!

Whatever draws us into the forest—be it birdwatching or logging, hiking or hunting—all of us are unified by the sense of wonder we feel in the outdoors. The forests, fields, and streams of our region are full of mystery, and if you stop and look closely, you’ll see all sorts of oddities.

Below find a picture of one such woodlands curio. Guess what it is and you’ll be eligible to win a Northern Woodlands woodpecker magnet designed by artist Liz Wahid. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner’s name, will appear when the next column is posted and in our newsletter (sign up here!).

eyePod

Can your eyes ID these pods?

Answer

Clammy groundcherry pods.

These pods, or husks, belong to the clammy groundcherry (Physalis heterophylla). Many of you guessed these lantern-like pods were from the Japanese lantern plant (Physalis alkengi), also known as strawberry groundcherry, whose husks turn a rich red and are used for decor. The clammy groundcherry’s husks, each encapsulating one seed-bearing berry, will fade from green to brown.

This week’s contest winner was Joshua Groves of Morrisville, NY