Daldinia Concentricia Fungus

INTRODUCTION

Belonging to the Xylariaceae family, the Daldinia Concentricia is an unusual inedible fungus also referred to as Cramp Balls, King Alfred's cakes, coal fungus, and Daldinia fissa. It is considered a xerophytic which means that it doesn't require any water to survive. This fungus usually grows as a sporocarp on dead or dying ash, citrus, oak, pine, or chestnut tree branches. They can be found in North America and Europe. When the fungus is cut open is displays numerous black and white concentric rings. Each of the rings hold the breeding season, and counting each layer reveals the age of the saprobe.

IDENTIFICATION

Daldinia Concentricia are very easy to identify. Young fungus have a color of a reddish brown, hard and round shaped. Size varies 1-7 cm in diameter. Once matured, the color changes to a jet black.

They have no stem, they're connect directly to the tree branch. Fresh fungus frequently occur during the seasons of Summer and Fall. Although older fungus can live for years. Some has said that the appearence resembled burnt bread or cake.

DATA

Other names King Alfred's cakes, Cramp balls, Charcoal balls, Daldinia fissa, King Alfred's burnt cakes,

Genus Daldinia

Kingdom Fungus

Phylum Ascomycota

Subphylum Pezizomycotina

Class Sordariomycetes

Subclass Xylariomycetidae

Order Xylariales

Family Xylariaceae

DISCUSSION

Daldinia Concentricia is associated with the legend of King Alfred. King Alfred hid out in the countryside homestead during the war. He was put in charge of the baking. One day he fell asleep and burnt the cakes, and the fungus supposedly resembles those burnt cakes. D. Concentricia is exclusive to angiosperms so there is no direct harm to humans. Although, they should not be eaten, they are considered poisonous. Its tough hard outer layer makes it impossible to even bite. Nevertheless, D. concentricia is good for lighting and moving fires. It burns slow just as a lump of coal and has been used since prehistoric times. Because of the spongeous texture it burns with ease and is very hard to extinguish. It has also been used to cure cramps if held in pants leg.

Being that D. concentricia belongs to the xylariaceae family, it causes white rot in its wood host. One way D. Concentricia benefits the environment is by breaking down old organic material. Daldinia