Daldinia concentrica King Alfred’s Cakes/Cramp Balls
The fruit bodies of this species can be found all year round occuring in small groups or singally on dead wood of broadleaved trees, having a particular affinity with Ash. The hemispherical lumpy fruit bodies are usually curved inwards at the base, up to 70mm across, initally red-brown, rapidly darkening to black.
The outer surface is thin and perforated with fine holes connecting to chambers in the outermost concentric ring that house the developing spores. The white concentric rings are diagnostic, hence the appearance of the Latin word “concentrica” in the scientific name.
The dark brown spores are released between April and June, they are shaped like a rugby ball flattened on one side, with a faint cleft that runs the full length of the more convex side. Large numbers of spores are ejected into the surrounding atmosphere at night. They measure 13-17.5 x 6-7.5mm, are smooth and offer no evidence of internal cross-walls.
The name cramp balls is claimed to come from the habit of the elderly carrying the fruit body about their person to combat the pain of rheumatism. King Alfred’s Cakes eludes to him burning cakes he was asked to keep an eye on. A failing that I have been guilty of.
Recorded on Warren Hill