Fungus
Hoof fungus
Picture to come.
Fomes fomentarius, a hard, hoof-shaped bracket fungus that in Britain grows mostly on birch. Its inner layer, once prepared, makes a felt-like material that catches a spark struck with flint and steel, and it has been used as tinder since prehistory: prepared pieces were found at Mesolithic Star Carr in Yorkshire. Its use in 12th-century England is likely but not specifically documented.
Caveats (confidence: medium)
No 12th-century English evidence was found; the preparation method (boiling, drying, beating) is not detailed in the consulted source and is left out.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
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