As the nights draw in and the rain becomes ever more prevalent, mushrooms and fungi are beginning to thrive in woodlands and grasslands. There are nearly 2,500 species of fungi inhabiting the Isle of Man, many of them having weird and wonderful colours and names. One such fungus is King Alfred’s cakes, a unique species that produces bulbous black orbs. Despite their uniqueness, they can be hard to spot as they blend in well with their surroundings. 

King Alfred’s cakes, Daldinia concentrica, also known as Cramp ball’s, has an almost alien appearance, growing to be about 2-10cm across. They tend to be found in a cluster, some being perfect round balls, others clumped together in a shapeless mass. King Alfred’s cakes start out as small pale spheres before turning jet black with a slight iridescent purple shine. As they age, they begin to crack, allowing for their spores to be released into the atmosphere. Once they break, they reveal intricate rings, or stroma, inside. Much like the rings of a tree, they represent the growth patterns of the fungus, indicating their nature for longevity. Very different from most common fruiting bodies which tend to live only a few days. 

The name of this fungus comes directly from a tale of King Alfred the Great. King Alfred ruled over the Kingdom of Wessex, which encompassed the south-east of England during the Angelo-Saxon era. Around the late 800s, Wessex was invaded by the Danes who sought to rule over the last independent Kingdom of England. After fighting a fierce battle, King Alfred and his men were forced to flee, it is said King Alfred took refuge in a herdsman’s cottage to regain his strength. The herdsman’s wife, unbeknownst to being in the presence of the King, asked King Alfred to watch over her cakes while she gathered firewood. Weighing on the battle, King Alfred was too caught up to notice the cakes burning on the fire. Embarrassed, he threw out the cakes before the woman returned, leaving them to become a perpetual reminder of his foolishness in the form of charcoal black fungus. Despite the humble tale, King Alfred went on to defeat the Danes, changing the course of English history forever.

King Alfred’s cakes are saprotrophic, meaning they only grow on fallen or rotting trees, more often on Ash or Beech trees due to their specific lignin and cellulose contents they need to feed on.  

This past year we have seen intense drought, which has a huge impact on fungi populations, especially King Alfred’s cakes which grow all year round. Drought can cause mushrooms to dry up and go dormant, unable to draw nutrients from the wood, prohibiting them from growing and reproducing. Mushrooms and fungi play a vital role in the ecosystem by breaking down fallen trees, helping to release nutrients into the soil. King Alfred’s cakes are also known to be a valuable source of food and shelter for invertebrates. 

King Alfred’s cakes can sometimes be mistaken for Brittle cinder, like King Alfred’s cakes, Brittle cinder starts out pale or grey, then develops into a deep black with age. However, Brittle cinder grows on living trees, rotting them out from the base, causing them to break and fall.

If you come across King Alfred’s cakes, you may be reminded of the funny tale of King Alfred the Great. Just remember, despite their name, these fungi are not edible and are best left untouched, allowing them to mature naturally and remain undisturbed.