Seed pods on a Japanese Maple

Mike,

On a couple of Japanese maples, instead of getting "helicopter wing seeds", I am getting football shaped woody pods. They have a woody texture, and a tough casing. Inside the pod is a black pellet which easily disintegrates into dozens of what looks to be like seeds (carrot/lettuce sized seed), plus a thin black film (used to wrap the seeds). Are these seeds? Some of the pods were empty and it looks like the black pellet fell out of them.

Thanks,
Steve

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