King Alfred's Cakes

Habitat

This species grows on dead or dying broadleaf wood, including downed logs, stumps, and fallen branches. It is found solitary or in clusters, showing a strong preference for ash trees (Fraxinus), though it is also known to occur on beech.

Photos

Appearance

Fruit body

Hard, brittle, carbon-like structure measuring 1–10 cm across. It is hemispherical, globose, or roughly pear-shaped, often with an incurved base. Initially reddish-brown to pinkish-gray, it eventually turns shiny black.

Surface

Smooth or slightly bumpy/nobbly, dotted with tiny pores or minute openings where spores are released.

Flesh

Fibrous and tough, characterized by distinct concentric silver-grey, dark purple, or blackish bands.

Spore print

Black or very dark brown.

Edibility

This mushroom is inedible. It is easily recognized by its hard, brittle, carbon-like texture and its fibrous interior, which features distinct silver-grey, dark purple, or blackish concentric zones. While not for consumption, the dry fruit bodies are used as tinder for fire-starting or as coal extenders.

Nutrient Source

It obtains nutrients by breaking down and absorbing nutrients from dead and decaying wood.

Common Names

Basque

kimomamizebratua, kimo mamizebratu

Danish

Aske-bæltekugle

Dutch

Kogelhoutskoolzwam

English

King Alfred's Cakes, Cramp Balls, Cramp-Ball

French

Daldinie concentrique

German

Kohliger Kugelpilz

Spanish

Daldinia de carne cebrada

Swedish

äkta skiktdyna

Welsh

Pelen Ddu

Synonyms

• Daldinia atra
• Daldinia tuberosa
• Fungus fraxineus
• Gamosphaera concentrica
• Hemisphaeria concentrica
• Hemisphaeria tuberosa
• Hypoxylon concentricum
• Hypoxylon tuberosum
• Lycoperdon atrum
• Lycoperdon fraxineum
• Peripherostoma concentricum
• Sphaeria concentrica
• Sphaeria fraxinea
• Sphaeria fraxinea
• Sphaeria tuberosa
• Sphaeria tunicata
• Stromatosphaeria concentrica
• Valsa tuberosa