# 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!

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Old trees
- **Also known as:** Black Bread Fungus, Cramp Ball

![King Alfred's Cake](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425718/objects/5160.jpg)

## 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.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Ascomycota
- **Class:** Sordariomycetes
- **Order:** Xylariales
- **Family:** Hypoxylaceae
- **Genus:** Daldinia

## 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

- **Fire Starter:** King Alfred's Cake has a hard, dry interior that can catch a spark, making it a natural fire-starting material.
- **Wood Recycler:** King Alfred's Cake can break down dead hardwood trees, returning valuable nutrients to the forest soil.
- **Growth Rings:** King Alfred's Cake has visible concentric rings inside, just like a tree, that show how much it has grown each year.
- **Winter Survivor:** King Alfred's Cake can survive harsh winter conditions because of its tough, woody texture, lasting for years.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 2-6 cm
- **Edible:** inedible
- **Size:** 2-10 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** wood
- **Season:** Year-round
- **Spore Color:** Dark brown

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify King Alfred's Cake?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is King Alfred's Cake?

2-6 cm

### Is King Alfred's Cake edible?

inedible

### How big is King Alfred's Cake?

2-10 cm

### Where is King Alfred's Cake usually found?

Old trees

### What does King Alfred's Cake grow on?

wood

### When is King Alfred's Cake in season?

Year-round

### What color are King Alfred's Cake spores?

Dark brown

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

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Source: [King Alfred's Cake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/king-alfred-s-cake)