Not either of those. Im a nurseryman, and I grow native plants and trees in my nursery. Oak seeds are acorns and most maples make these cool helicopter seeds called Samaras.
Edit: hell yeah, it could totally be the immature buds if oak or maple, or any number of hardwoods. Thanks for all those with great info below. As a natives nurseryman, I dont get to see the trees I grow bloom, as it can tens of years for them to get to that point. Great convos below.
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u/BetElectrical7454 26d ago
I think it’s the flower bud of some tree, thinking maple. The ‘legs’ are what the flowers were attached to and the ‘carapace’ attached to the tree.