Daldinia eschscholzii (Ehrenb.) Rehm

Common name: None. In England, a similar species (D. concentrica) is known as Cramp Balls from the belief that carrying one in the pocket will ward off cramps.

Description: This fungus forms hard, hemispherical or flattened bodies (stromata) that are pressed closely to the wood. The surface is smooth and purplish or purplish brown, but old fruiting bodies become black and rather brittle. Spores are discharged in vast numbers from the stromata and form a blackish powder which stains both the stromata and the surrounding wood. A cross-section of the fungus reveals concentric light and dark layers.

The spores measure 913 × 56 µm, and are ellipsoidal, smooth and brown to brownish black.

Substratum: Daldinia eschscholzii is always found on wood in forests where it may be solitary or gregarious.

Distribution: This species is known from Queensland and Tasmania.

Notes: It is difficult to be certain which of the two species of Daldinia is present without microscopic examination. Spores of D. concentrica are 1416 m long, while those of D. eschscholzii are normally 811 m long. The colour of the former species is also more red-brown rather than the purplish colour of D. eschscholzii.