King Alfred's Cake

Daldinia

King Alfred's Cake is a dark, round fungus that grows on old trees. It gets its name because it looks like a burnt cake!

Habitat: Old trees

Appearance

The King Alfred's Cake is a hard, almost spherical or hemispherical fungus, usually black or dark brown on the outside. Its surface is rough and often cracked, resembling a lump of burnt charcoal or volcanic rock. Inside, it reveals distinct concentric rings, like a cut onion.

KingdomFungiPhylumAscomycotaClassSordariomycetesOrderXylarialesFamilyHypoxylaceaeGenusDaldinia

King Alfred's Cake

Interesting facts

Ancient people sometimes carried this fungus to keep embers glowing for fire!

Inside, it looks like a cut onion, with striking black and white rings!

It's named after a legendary king who once accidentally burned some cakes!

This tough fungus can even survive intense forest fires, sometimes looking even more charred!

Special abilities

King Alfred's Cake has a hard, dry interior that can catch a spark, making it a natural fire-starting material.

King Alfred's Cake can break down dead hardwood trees, returning valuable nutrients to the forest soil.

King Alfred's Cake has visible concentric rings inside, just like a tree, that show how much it has grown each year.

King Alfred's Cake can survive harsh winter conditions because of its tough, woody texture, lasting for years.

Measurements & details

Height: 2-6 cm
Edibility: inedible
Cap Diameter: 2-10 cm
Growth Substrate: wood
Season: Year-round
Spore Color: Dark brown

Ecological connections

depends on

European Beech

Fagus sylvatica

Grows on its dead wood

depends on

Pedunculate Oak

Quercus robur

Decomposes its fallen branches

eats

Fungus Beetle

Cis boleti

Larvae feed on the fungus

Traits

Deciduous

Discover the magic of plants that shed all their leaves during a particular season, often putting on a spectacular show of fall colors first. They get ready for a fresh start!

Spore Producing

Discover how some plants and fungi create tiny little "seeds" called spores to help them grow new life! These tiny particles drift in the air, spreading new generations far and wide.