You're going to make me loose my bet! My girlfriend insists it some root
burl or something but I disagree. I've seen damaged roots before that went
haywire but there always appeared to be an in and an out to it if you know
what I mean. This appears to be completely on the surface and has roots
coming from it into the ground from the top. There are no vines attached to
it or any other form of life. There was a small growth on top of it though,
like how a potato starts to sprout but it was only a couple of inches. There
are no vines of any type in the area. The only thing growing there was a
mass of Laurel Sumac and it's deadfall. And we're talking massive deadfall.
In all I found three large rats nests that looked like beaver lodges, the
largest of which was 4' tall intertwined and protected by the sumac. This
was found under one of these nests. The only other thing growing there was
some scrub (California?) oaks and some olive saplings but none anywhere near
this thing. In fact there wasn't and sumac root clusters near either and the
Sumac seems to have a very small root system, IOW not like a tree would
have. And due to the density there were no plants anywhere on the surface or
anywhere nearby. I didn't really know what a tuber was and I think you are
right, although the idea of a huge potato somehow makes me hungry right now.
But it begs the question "A tuber for what?". After boning up on tubers I
did a google image search but couldn't find anything that looked like this.
Do Laurel Sumac ever have tubers? That would be my best guess since there is
nothing else around of any size. Maybe I'll dig up the roots and see where
they lead.

"mel turner" wrote in message
...
"Cory Jackson" wrote in message
...

http://bluepointdesign.com/weird/

I found this pod in a lot next to my house. One of the strangest natural
things I've ever seen! Can someone tell me what the heck this is before I
hack it up and dispose of it? FYI I live in Fallbrook California.

It looks like a large tuberous root. Similar root tubers are possessed
by numerous vines [esp. some morning glories, several members of the
squash/cucumber family]. Some common California wild cucumber
relatives, Marah or Echinocystis, are famous for their giant tubers
that can be much larger than the one in your photo. Some wild
Cucurbita gourds also have huge tubers.

http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Man-root
http://www.cnps-yerbabuena.org/gard_sigg_manroot.html
http://www.necandeconews.to/modules....icle&sid= 229
http://www.starlandretreat.com/Index/Nature.htm
http://www.sanelijo.org/plants/image...cumberroot.jpg
http://www.sanelijo.org/plants/image...umberfruit.jpg
http://www.sanelijo.org/plants/image...cumbervine.jpg
http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/html/bot...e/a0804tx.html

Do you recall seeing similar spiny-fruited wild cucumber vines at
or near the site?

cheers