Living Attraction

King Alfred’s Cakes

Doldinia concentrica

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Improve your bushcraft skills by getting to know this odd looking fungus.

King Alfred’s Cakes fungi Creative Commons Attribution: Bruce Langridge

Round black fungus on ash trees

If you’re out camping and are having trouble lighting a camp fire, this King Alfred’s Cakes fungus could come in handy. Found on dead ash branches in our Trawscoed Wood, it will easily take a spark if dry and will burn slowly.

Open it up with a knife and you’ll see concentric rings inside – this explains its Latin name. You might also see little insects living inside.