Daldinia concentrica

[John Hancock]

Daldinia concentrica on Ash, also as "King Alfred's cakes," 'as the legend goes, King Alfred was fleeing a battle with the Danes in Somerset when he took refuge in an old woman's house. The old woman, not knowing he was the king, left Alfred in charge of watching some cakes in the oven. Of course, he knew nothing about ovens and didn't really know what he was supposed to do. He fell asleep, and the cakes burned. The old woman scolded him soundly for being lazy, but later she was probably sorry about "raking him over the coals" when she found out he was the king!'

 

The other fungi is Bjerkandera adusta/Polyporus adustus (In a desiccated state)

 

Nice little link....

 

http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/dec2004.html

[Mesterh]

Is it right that Daldinia concentrica grows on dead wood only? ie the part of the ash its growing on will be dead.

 

Nice pics btw:thumbup1:

[John Hancock]

Principles of Tree Hazard Assessment and Management states – ‘This fungus, although common, is of relatively little significance for safety, since it is mainly confined to small trunks and branches which have in most cases died from some other cause’

 

The Ash on which these were found was dead. They are a good indicator of dead material as they stand out so well in the winter months.

 

They are currently classed as a white-rot.

[Stephen Blair]

this is the only fungi i have found on ash since i started looking, and it was on standing deadwood, the snall ones were qite guey when i poked it with a stick but the larger one was hard and crumbly.

[Treenurd]

Are you sure the other is Bjerkandera? Have you checked it against Datronia mollis?

 

Ben

[John Hancock]

Are you sure the other is Bjerkandera? Have you checked it against Datronia mollis?

 

Ben

 

 

Fairly confident, I have a sample of Bjerkandera back at the office which I checked it against. It’s just a shame I couldn’t do the ‘tear’ test on this one as it was dry as a bone.

[Arob]

I think they're King Alfred's cakes - anyway, spotted yesterday.