How long do Fungi live ?

Many people when asked this question might  say a few days. That could be because they are thinking of Mushrooms which grow rapidly and disappear quite quickly too. Although of course they are just the fruit of the long living parent which exists underground.
But there are many bracket type fungi which live on tree trunks and branches and which have a much longer life..
My blip today shows an interesting example. It is a fungus called King Alfred’s Cakes or sometimes Coal Fungus ( Daldinia concentrica). It lives on dead and decaying wood and especially on fallen Ash branches.
It is hard and shiny black on the outside. But if you cut it open the flesh is arranged in concentric layers. Most sources agree that like tree rings these layers are related to seasonal growth. If that is the case the example in my blip must be over twelve years old.
The reason it is called coal fungus is that with a spark from a flint and steel it will burst into flames. It will then burn slowly and get your camp fire going.
What an obscure blip ! Don’t suppose I will get a galaxy of stars but I enjoyed doing it.