Species details
Brittle cinder
Kretzschmaria deusta
Inedible
Photo: Shirley Zundell · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A grey to nearly black crust fungus that looks like charred wood and becomes brittle with age.
Identification features
The fruitbody forms irregular flat crusts, grey with a whitish margin when young, later almost entirely black, hard and brittle. No stem.
Identification checklist
Check the crust-like growth without a stem, transition from grey to almost black, and brittle charred-looking surface.
Habitat
Grows on stumps, roots and living hardwood trees, especially beech, in woods and parks from spring into winter.
Fruiting period
March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Ecology
- Host trees
- Beech (Fagus)
- Substrate
- Stumps, Roots
- Notes
- Grows on stumps, roots and living hardwood trees, especially beech, in woods and parks from spring into winter.
How to separate similar species
Old black crust fungi can look very similar; difficult specimens require microscopic confirmation.
Similar species
- Hypoxylon species
- Biscogniauxia species
- Xylaria species