Monkey balls, otherwise known by their scientific name as Dracontomelon dao, are a species of tropical tree native to Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. These trees are usually found in rainforest habitats and at elevations from sea level to 4,000 feet.
The trees can reach heights of up to 80 feet, and produce a distinctive, spheric-shaped fruit that can reach masses of up to two pounds. The outer shell of the fruit is thick and white, resembling an overgrown coconut.
The flesh inside is sweet, creamy and aromatic. These fruits are edible but bitter, and are often used to flavor drinks, desserts and sauces. The trees generally take about five to six years to mature and begin producing fruit.
Therefore, monkey balls grow in tropical rainforest habitats in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia.
What kind of tree has pods hanging from it?
A tree that has pods hanging from it is most likely a legume, which is a type of plant in the Fabaceae family. Common examples of trees in this family that produce pods include the locust tree, honey locust, tamarind tree, carob tree, and wisteria tree.
These trees typically produce pods of different shapes and sizes depending on the species. They can range from round and oval-shaped to slim and curved. Many of these pods contain seeds, which then fall to the ground, providing food for wildlife and acting as a natural fertilizer.
What are the brown spiky balls that fall from trees?
The brown spiky balls that fall from trees are often the fruits of various deciduous trees and shrubs. Depending on what type of tree or shrub they are falling from, these spiky balls can be fruits, seed pods, or catkins.
Common examples of these falling fruits include sweet chestnut, bald cypress, beech, and hop-hornbeam. Sweet chestnut fruits are 2-3cm in diameter, spiky and prickly on the outside and hairy yellow inside.
They usually fall in October and contain 1-3 edible chestnuts. Bald cypress fruits are 3-4 cm long, round and spiky looking like a little pineapple. They usually fall in July and contain 1-4 seeds inside a dark yellow pulp.
Beech fruits are 4-6cm in length, hard and spiky on the outside and filled with flat winged seeds on the inside. They usually fall in September and October and can be collected and used as animal feed or burned for fuel.
Hop-hornbeam fruits are usually 3cm in length, thin and pointed with a capsule containing three seeds. They usually fall in August and September and are a valuable source of food for woodland birds.
What kind of trees drop gumballs?
The most common type of tree that is associated with dropping gumballs is the gumball tree (or sweet gum), which is a type of deciduous tree that is native to North America and parts of Eurasia. This tree has five-lobed, star-shaped leaves and grows to a height of 60 to 75 feet.
It produces a type of nut called a biker seed that is enclosed within a pair of spiny, woody pods that resemble green, spiny hedgehogs. In the fall, the leaves turn yellow and then drop, leaving behind the spiny pods that contain the gumballs.
The gumballs are typically small and round, and when dried, they can be eaten as a sweet snack.
What is a sweetgum tree good for?
A sweetgum tree is a versatile and hardy tree that can be good for both ornamental and practical purposes. It has a pyramidal shape with dark green leaves in the summer that turn radiant colors in the fall.
Their trunks are distinctive due to their spiky-looking inverted “V” shaped ridges called wings that are present year-round. It is an ideal shade tree due to its large, full canopy, and can provide privacy and protection to a landscape.
The wood of the sweetgum tree is extremely strong and can be used for furniture, fence posts and other building materials. It is also used for making veneer for furniture, wall panels and other parts of buildings.
On the decorative side, sweetgum trees are often planted along walkways and driveways in landscaped yards, providing eye-catching seasonal color and interest. Sweetgum trees are adaptable and often low-maintenance, with some varieties being resistant to common diseases.
They also provide a variety of benefits for the local wildlife; their fruit serves as a food source for birds and other small animals, and their sprawling canopy offers a space for nesting.
What time of year do sweet gum balls fall?
Sweet gum balls fall from the sweet gum tree during the autumn season. This usually happens during the months of September through November when the temperatures are cooling down. The tree will start to drop its seedpods as a way to propagate and as the season progresses and the days become shorter and colder, the seedpods become ripe and darker in color.
By late fall the seedpods are ripe and ready to fall, which can make a carpet of spiky round balls below the canopy of the sweet gum tree. To keep the area around the tree free of the sweet gum balls, it’s best practice to rake up the fallen balls regularly.
How do you get rid of sweetgum trees?
The best way to get rid of sweetgum trees is to cut them down as close to the ground as possible. This will also work better if done during the winter months, when the sap and moisture content of the tree are at their lowest.
If the tree has already reached a significant height, it may be necessary to use a chainsaw to cut it down. It is important to properly dispose of the wood, either by chipping it up for mulch or compost, or using it for firewood.
To prevent the tree from growing back, all of the roots should be removed from the soil. If it is difficult to do this manually, a root ripper, puller, or rototiller can be used. It is also important to fill the hole with soil to prevent the tree from regrowing.
If a regrowth does occur, applying an herbicide such as glyphosate can help to kill it. It may also be necessary to repeat this process a few times over the course of the growing season to ensure that the sweetgum tree is completely eradicated.
How do you stop sweetgum trees from producing balls?
The main way to stop a sweetgum tree from producing balls is to cut it down or prune it. Pruning sweetgum trees is best done during the winter, when the tree is dormant. You will want to remove any branches that produce the most fruit, which in the case of sweetgum trees are the tips of the branches.
This will keep the tree from producing as much fruit overall. It’s also important to regularly rake up any fallen seed balls from the ground, as these can continue to produce new seedlings even if the tree itself is no longer producing them.
Additionally, if the tree is in an area of the landscape where the seed balls are not desirable or are a nuisance, the tree can be sheared regularly to keep it from producing flowers and seedballs. Finally, if possible, fertilizing and watering the tree regularly can help promote healthy growth and may reduce the amount of seed balls that it produces.
What are the round pods on oak trees?
The round pods on oak trees are known as acorns. Acorns are the fruit of the oak tree and are an important food source for many species of wildlife such as birds, deer, and squirrels. The acorn is considered a nut because it is a hard-shelled fruit with a single seed and is high in fat.
Acorns vary in size and color, ranging from yellow-brown to deep brown. They can also come in different shapes, including round and oval. While most acorns are full of healthy nutrients, some species of oak tree produce acorns that are toxic, so it is important to know which type of oak tree the acorns are from.
Acorns serve an important role in ecosystems by providing food for wildlife and the nutrients required for healthy forest growth.
How do I get rid of spiky balls in my yard?
Removing spiky balls in your yard can be a tricky endeavour. The best way to tackle this task is to first determine what type of spiky balls they are. If they are haws, they are most likely the fruit of the hawthorn tree, and can be removed by cutting them off the tree at the base.
If they are burrs, you may need to take a more hands-on approach depending on the type and size of burr. For example, if the burrs are small and soft enough, applying a strong stream of water from a water hose may dislodge them, or you can pick them off the grass or surface one by one.
If the burrs are larger or hard, try using pliers or tweezers to pull them off with as little disruption as possible. Lastly, you may also want to consider applying a weed killer like glyphosate to the area as this may help to reduce the likelihood of further eruptions of burrs in the future.
Are sweet gum tree balls poisonous?
No, sweet gum tree balls (also known as gumballs) are not poisonous. The gumballs from sweet gum trees are harmless and can be handled or consumed by people or animals with no ill effects. Although the gumballs from sweet gum trees don’t contain any toxic substances, they do have a very hard, spiky outer layer that can be uncomfortable if handled for extended periods of time or if it gets caught in clothing or fur.
If consumed, the gumballs are not toxic, but they may cause a blockage of the digestive system if too many are eaten. Therefore, while sweet gum tree balls aren’t poisonous they should be handled or consumed with caution.
What are the little spiky balls in grass?
The little spiky balls in grass are called seed heads or flower heads, and are the reproductive organs of the grass. They form when the grass flowers and pollen from the anthers is transferred to the stigma, causing fertilization and resulting in a seed head.
These seed heads usually contain several seeds, which can be gathered and collected or allowed to disperse naturally. The presence of seed heads in the grass generally indicates a healthy and established turf.
However, the abundance of grass seed heads can also make a lawn look untidy. Sometimes, the seed heads will be removed by mowing the grass.
What tree drops stringy things in spring?
In springtime, one tree that is known for dropping stringy things is the Gingko biloba, or Maidenhair tree. These trees are native to China but can be found in many parts of the world that have temperate climates.
In early spring, Gingko trees begin to produce long, bristly yellow-green filaments that have an uncanny resemblance to noodles or straw. These strings, known as ginkgotoxin, are released from shaped fruits that look like large plums.
While the strings are not edible, they can be quite striking if allowed to remain on the tree. These trees are popular for many reasons, particularly for their unique and showy spring display!.
