King Alfred's Cakes
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Daldinia concentrica
The fruit of this fungus is hemi-spherical, with a hard, friable, shiny black fruiting body 2 to 7 centimeters wide.
It resembles a chunk of coal, which gives it several of its common names, including coal fungus and carbon balls.
The flesh of the fruit body is purple, brown, or silvery-black inside, and is arranged in concentric layers.
Most sources agree that like tree rings, these layers are related to seasonal growth
Common & widespread in Britain.