Der falsche Zunder / a wrong kind of tinder
Geschrieben in Alltag am 29.12.2018 von Eva-Maria
Wer sich mit Feuer machen im Mittelalter beschäftigt, stößt auf ein immer wieder genanntes Zundermaterial - den Zunderschwamm. Dieser Baumpilz der Gattung Fomes Fomentarius wächst auf sterbenden Buchen und Birken und beherbergt in seinem Innern weiches Fruchtfleisch - die sogenannte Trama-Schicht - die sich hervorragnet dazu eignet, Funken aufzufangen und lange zu glimmen. Damit war der Pilz bereits in der Jungsteinzeit eine begehrte Zutat zum Feuer machen (die berühmte Gletschermumie "Ötzi" führte Zunderschwamm mit sich). Soviel zur Theorie - hätte ich die nur vorher gewusst bzw. ordentlich recherchiert! Statt dessen freute ich mich, als ich optisch passende Baumpilze im heimischen Fichtenwald entdeckte und nahm sie mit nach Hause, um die vermeintliche Zunderschicht zu gewinnen. Groß war die Überraschung als ich nach stundenlangen Mühen feststellte: "Das ist der falsche Zunder!" Denn echter Zunderschamm wächst nur auf Laubbäumen und damit nicht in den Fichten-Monokulturen der Alpen. Wieder was gelernt! Damit die ganze Plackerei nicht ganz für die Katz war, möchte ich dennoch mein Experiment mit euch teilen.
When researching ways to start a fire the medieval way you repeatedly encounter a material called tinder fungus. This tree fungus classified as fomes fomentarius grows on the side of various species of tree - preferrably birch or beech - which it infects through broken bark, causing rot. Inside the fungus, there's a soft spongy part that has traditionally seen use as tinder as it catches sparks easily and glows for a long time. The 5,000-year-old Ötzi the Iceman carried four pieces of F. fomentarius with him, concluded to be for use as tinder. (source: Wikipedia) So much for theory! If only I had known, I would have spared myself much trouble. Instead I was overjoyed to discover a tree fungus in a local wood and took it home to harvest the tinder material. Imagine my surprise when I discovered - after painstakingly removing the woody outer parts of the fungus - that the inside didn't look anything like the pictures. It was the wrong kind of fungus! Had I done my research correctly, I would have known that real tinder fungus only grows on leaf trees - so no chance of finding it in the monocultural spruce woods of the Alps. Anyway, I want to share my experience with you so you don't fall for the same mistake.
![](https://mittelalter.tirol/storage/temp/public/f4a/813/f55/zunder01__2000.jpg)
What you need to start a fire: Flintstone and firesteel (middle), tinder fungus (down left) or other tinder material like linen thread or charred linen fabric (down right); Then hay or birch bark (upper right) to build up the flames and some kindling (upper left) to nurture the fire. Unsuitable however is the corky material (down middle) that came from the wrong kind of tree fungus.
![](https://mittelalter.tirol/storage/temp/public/e92/683/823/zunder05__2000.jpg)
A direct comparison: On the left ist the inside of a needle-tree fungus, on the right side's the "real" tree fungus after treatment (To burn well it has to be battered thinly and nitrated). More information here.
![](https://mittelalter.tirol/storage/temp/public/6a5/18a/451/zunder09__2000.jpg)
The tree fungus in all its glory - it really looked alike to a real tinder fungus.
![](https://mittelalter.tirol/storage/temp/public/e32/de4/e1e/zunder10__2000.jpg)
Inside, the corky material can be seen clearly - here's a picture of how it should have looked like.
![](https://mittelalter.tirol/storage/temp/public/b6f/4a0/9a3/zunder06__2000.jpg)
Finally another comparison: corky fungus' insides vs. fluffy tinder fungus. What a difference!