scale would sure help ... how big is it ...

Sorry, I thought about that after I posted but thought maybe it was so obvious to someone, they would automatically know what it was. :-)

It is almost round and 1-1/8" diameter.

The surface is somewhat rough/wrinkly but smooth compared to a black walnut.

Is anyone else having trouble viewing pictures that are posted?

If it wasn't Minnesota, I'd say it might be a dried out palm "eyeball".

We were in West palm beach and then took a cruise over to Grand Bahama island, a couple of years ago. I, for the life of me, can't remember bringing anything back but I suppose it's possible.

It looks a little dry and has a crack in it. Can it still be viable? How would I test it? Or how would I stratify it?

Okay, thanks! I don't think I have the means to grow one in a pot anyways and it wouldn't survive my winters outside. :-)

If not a black walnut, probably something in the hickory family, it has the look.

I can't rule anything out. It looks like a more wrinkled surface than what gyr_falcon posted and possibly larger in diameter. I know so little about these kinds of seeds whether it be palm or hickory, we never see either one of them up here and neither would probably grow in z3. I think it looks more nut like though. And still can't remember where it came from exactly.

If it hadn't come from Florida I'd suggest the fruit (not the seed) of Davidia involucrata. I'm not sure if that Species grows there. Does it sound dense or hollow when tapped on a surface? Is it heavy or light for its size? Does it rattle?

Sorry floral,

I just saw this now and it didn't show up in my notifications (nothing new with this new site).

It is very hard and dense when tapped on my bench and feels heavy for it's size.

The shell is very wood like and hard.

Not sure it came from Florida, I just can't remember collecting this seed and Florida's the only place I've been with a zone higher than 5.

Why don't you just plant it and see what it grows into.

Thanks!

But until I know what it is, how will I proceed with the correct way to stratify it?

Good point. It would probably have to be winter sowed or left in the fridge for three months. Strange that the tree it came from can't be located.

Ya, if I do anything, it will be late winter or early spring, so no hurry. :-)

I agree with Floral that it looks something like a fruit, a mummified fruit? The top pic shows a lighter surface with a crack as if it were attached to something, either to a stem with a crown or something like the cap on an acorn which is missing. Otherwise I have no idea what it is.

If it did come from Florida it won't need cold stratification.

" If it did come from Florida it won't need cold stratification "

haha! I was just thinking about the same thing!

In your best opinion, what would be the best way to stratify something like this? Just soak it in water a short time then keep it moist? I know it may be too old to expect anything but what's to loose?

I would think it best to wait until March or April, so once it sprouts, it could have real sun, during the day anyways.

Any thoughts?

After I posted, I amped up the lighting, to take better pictures. I was a little frustrated, because of the dark color (reddish brown almost black) made me think it was interfering with seeing the texture of the surface. These were with Mode Macro on. The 'shell' reminds me of a Brazil nut shell, very hard and seemingly thick. Top end:

I noticed some marks that appeared to be scrapes, that looked more red. Made me think that this could be a 'coating' like a pit from fruit? That had 'jelly' dry on the surface? Bottom end:

So I took the seed to a wire brush to see if I could lighten it up for better visibility. Thought it might make it look more familiar to someone in the know? Following are some pics after the wire brush. Bottom end:

Top end:

Another angle of top:

Hope this helps find the name of this thing.

I know this is probably way out there but it looks like an old dried out Avocado pit/seed.

I stumbled across this thread which may relate, looks similar anyways....

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5445057/need-help-identifying-this-fruit#n=19

With at least two comments of it being old and dried out, I split it apart and it broke quite easily.

The shell not as thick as it first appeared. The center is solid and what looks like an embryo.

The possibility of Avocado might be valid as we do buy them every now and then.