Spalted beech box, 3.3 cm (2.1 inches) in diameter, 5.9 cm (2.3 inches) high.

Spalting is a process by which certain fungi grow on dead or fallen trees, colonizing the wood by travelling up the wood cells from the ends of broken branches,
leaving an attractive pattern. The black lines are zone lines created by different species of fungi erecting barriers around their territory. Once kiln dried,
the fungi spores are rendered inactive, and the resultant wood is much prized, especially by woodturners.