Cramp Balls
King Alfred's Cakes Daldinia concentrica, or Cramp Balls as they are also commonly known, a name born from the old belief that carrying them could ward off cramp, are common and widespread across much of Britain. Hard and weighty to the touch, they cling to fallen Ash and Beech where they grow in domed, charcoal-black forms that resemble small burnt loaves. Their resemblance is no coincidence to their folklore name: legend holds that King Alfred once scorched his cakes, and these fungi wear that memory in their very shape.
Scientifically, D. concentrica is just as intriguing. Slice one open and you’ll find its hallmark: dark, concentrically layered rings like tree growth rings, each layer the remnant of a previous year’s fruiting, a quiet archive of seasons passed. The fungus begins life reddish-brown, the surface smooth, later deepening to sooty black as it matures. By the time it releases its spores, a fine dust settles across its surface, easily brushed away to reveal a polished, black sheen beneath.
Firmly anchored to their host wood, these organisms play an important ecological role, slowly breaking down the lignin-rich tissues of their host, particularly poignant now, as Ash Dieback reshapes many of Britain’s woodlands. Though not the most flamboyant of species, they are a reminder that even the forest’s darker, humbler forms carry stories of decay, renewal and folklore.
Maybe not the most exotic of species but fascinating nonetheless.
References:
Buczacki, S., Shields, C. and Ovenden, D. (2012). Collins Fungi Guide: The most complete field guide to the mushrooms and toadstools of Britain & Ireland. London: HarperCollins, p. 598, fig. p. 599.
O’Reilly, P. (2016). Fascinated by Fungi – exploring the majesty and mystery, facts and fantasy of the quirkiest kingdom on earth. Llandysul: First Nature, p. 239.
Phillips, R. (2006). Mushrooms. London: Pan Macmillan, p. 374, fig. b.
Sterry, P. and Hughes. B. (2009). Collins Complete Guide to British Mushrooms and Toadstools. London: HarperCollins, p. 328, fig. p. 329.
www.first-nature.com/fungi/daldinia-concentrica.php [Accessed, 8th December 2025].