Chagga?

[mountainm]

Head sized

Verdict?

 

[Clouston98]

I think it's a burl mate. I've found quite a few chaga specimens and harvested some too quality tinder from them too, it's the outside that looks like a burl .

I post a picture in a minute of a specimen I found .

 

[Clouston98]

Here it is:

I generally leave them if there small or young, this was big and the tree it was on was very nearly dead, if I had left it the fungus would have just died so I harvested it. They're quite a few to be found if you look hard, but it's best to only take what you need as it's rare .

Hope this helps!

 

[robevs73]

I just got back from Sweden and found a decent lump at the last camp, it caught straight from the tree with no drying needed from a very small spark from a Bushkey (by FGYT) and a picec of quarts from the lake. Good stuff !

 

[Haggis]

I was out canoe camping this summer with Herself, and the morning we were to leave I found a nice large chaga 2 feet off the ground, and not 100' from camp. It was the last place I would have looked, as usually I find them higher on the tree,,,

The chaga is on the lower left, just in front of the large pack,,,

 

[Clouston98]

I love that photo! Mmmmm canvas goodness

Yeah Rob it's great getting it going with flint and steel!

 

[weekender]

Can someone explain what 'Chaga' is??? I've not heard of it and what the difference is a burl? Ta


Sent from somewhere?

 

[Clouston98]

It is a parasitic fungus that kills birch trees. It has a corky like texture and is great for firelighting or making a medicinal tea. Quite rare in the UK. It's a great thing to find and use but you have to have sharp eyes to spot them .

 

[weekender]

So what's a burl then??😳


Sent from somewhere?

 

[Clouston98]

It's where a tree heals over a wound like where a branch has been snapped off. It's got that twisted grain that looks good in inife handles .

 

[weekender]

Ahh all is now clear. Ta.👍 This is why I love this forum😊


Sent from somewhere?