Daldina concentrica
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Subdivision: Pezizomycotina
Class: Sordariomycetes
Subclass: Xylariomycetidae
Order: Xylariales
Family: Xylariaceae
Genus: Daldinia
Species: D. concentrica
Binomial name Daldinia concentrica
These always grow on wood. They look and feel like hard half-round balls.
When cut in half, concentric bands of light and dark colours are seen. See photo below
The fungus is a useful form of tinder for fire-lighting. It does need
to be completely dry, whereupon it will easily take a spark. It burns slowly, much like a charcoal briquette, with a particularly pungent smoke. Once lit it is
quite difficult to extinguish but fragments can be broken off and transferred to a tinder ball to create an open flame. Maoris used to to cart fire from one place to another using this fungi.
Daldina concentrica grown on a old log
Daldina concentrica cut in half showing the concentric bands
The following fungi of the same genus and to date able to identify.
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