Cramp Balls vs

Daldinia concentrica compared with Daldinia loculata

Key Differences

• Cramp Balls is Vulnerable while is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cramp Balls
Kingdom same	Fungi (เห็ดรา)	Fungi (เห็ดรา)
Phylum same	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)
Class same	Sordariomycetes (Sordariomycetes)	Sordariomycetes (Sordariomycetes)
Order same	Xylariales (Xylariales)	Xylariales (Xylariales)
Family same	Hypoxylaceae	Hypoxylaceae
Genus same	Daldinia	Daldinia
Species	Daldinia concentrica	Daldinia loculata

Evolutionary Relationship

Cramp Balls and share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Daldinia.

Conservation Status

Cramp Balls

VU — Vulnerable

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cramp Balls
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cramp Balls

Habitat

Native to Asia and Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (5 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Daldinia loculata is a pyrenomycete fungus producing hard, globose to hemispherical stromata with characteristic concentric zones visible in cross-section. It grows on dead hardwood and occasionally burned wood in temperate forests. This saprotrophic ascomycete decomposes dead wood and is associated with post-fire habitats.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden