This month's Natural Mystery comes to us from a campsite on Seagull Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness courtesy of frequent Natural Mystery participant Kirsten Welge. The question is "What happened here?" Specifically, how did this short section of branch end up on the ground, what is the bulb at the tip of the branch, and why does that bulb look the way it does?

An ideal answer will identify the plant that the twig came from, and explain how the twig ended up in this condition, including identifying any animals involved to species. Please also explain how you arrived at your answer, and explain how you eliminated other possible explanations. Sharing your logic and reasoning will help others benefit from your process.

Though it is not quite visible in this picture, the section of branch ends just millimeters outside of the photo frame. To offer a little more context, the photo inset shows a number of similar sections of branch on the ground near by.

To download the photo or view it larger size, right click the image below.
Answers are due by July 4.