Daldinia concentrica    (Bolt.:Fr.) Ces. & De Not 

common name(s) : Cramp Balls, King Alfred's Cakes, King Alfred's Cramp Balls 

New classification: Ascomycota/Pezizomycotina/Sordariomycetes/Xylariomycetidae/Xylariales/Xylariaceae  
Former classification: Ascomycota/Hymenoascomycetes/Pyrenomycetideae  
(unconfirmed synonyms: Hypoxylon concentrica, Hypoxylon tuberosum)  

edibility : inedible

potential confusions with Daldinia concentrica toxicity of Daldinia concentrica genus Daldinia  

The fruiting body is spherical, tough, brown, soon shiny black.

The fertile surface is smooth.

It grows on wood, on dead wood of broad-leaved trees, on alder, birch, ash, beech, oak.

The fruiting period takes place all year long.
Dimensions: width of fruiting body approximately 5 cm (between 1 and 10 cm)

Distinctive features : sorry, no English description yet

Daldinia concentrica is rare and confined in the forest of Rambouillet, and is frequent, more generally speaking .
here should be the distribution map of Daldinia concentrica in the forest of Rambouillet
Above : distribution map of Daldinia concentrica in the forest of Rambouillet



page updated on 14/01/18