The
University
of
the
West
Indies

The Macro-Fungi of Barbados

Daldinia concentrica (Bolton) Ces. & De Not., Comm. Soc. crittog. Ital. 1: 197 (1983).

Department
of
Biological
and
Chemical
Science

Division/Phylum:  Ascomycota

Class: Ascomycetes

Order: Xylariales

Family: Xylariaceae

Common Name : Carbon Ball , Cramp Ball

Habitat: Woodland

Substrate: Dead Wood.

Description: Hard, hemispherical fungus (Fig. 1).

Mushroom: Reddish brown - maroon eventually becoming black at maturity, 10- 40 mm diameter. Flesh fibrous with concentric zones (Fig. 2).

Spores: Black (Fig. 3)

 Growth habit: Individual.

 Specimen: St. Michael; Cave Hill, (13o08.015’ N,  59o 37.861’ W) Daniel-06-01, September-21-2006.

 Comments: As Daldinia concentrica ages it goes from grey to maroon to black.

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1: Daldinia concentrica in situ.

 

Figure 2: Daldinia concentrica in cross-section.
 

Figure 3: Daldinia concentrica spores.