Hi ycarry,
Why thats not wood at all! It's a rare species of shell fish found in the mariana trench using a Newt sub made by Phil Nuytten of http://www.nuytco.com/

They form next to underwater volcanos in 2000 F waters. They are most notable for "Blending" together to form corbell/scroll type shapes that have a sweeping connection between the blends. They survive by pretending to be wood!!!