King Alfred's Cakes - Daldinia concentrica

Large semi-globose stroma, or communal fruitbody, on dead or dying Ash trees.  Large old specimens may be up to 8 cm across.  Young growth pinkish-brown  - this is the asexual stage, releasing conidiospores.  The sexual stage is black, with a surface is covered in extremely small pores through which the spores are ejected.  Specimens persist for several years, with a new fertile layer being formed each season, resulting in the pale and dark grey concentric zones inside the stroma. 

Field photos; note habitat, substrate and associated tree species

On dead and dying trunks and branches of Ash; often found on ground beneathe trees. 

Fresh growths from June to November but persisting all year round

Very common and widespread in Britain

Very common