King Alfred's cake

English

This entry needs a photograph or drawing for illustration. Please try to find a suitable image on Wikimedia Commons or upload one there yourself!

Etymology

From the resemblance of the round, black fungus to the burned cakes in a legend according to which King Alfred, hiding out in a countryside homestead during war, was put in charge of some baking cakes and accidentally let them burn.

Noun

King Alfred 's cake (uncountable)

A fungus of species Daldinia concentrica.
Synonyms: cramp balls, coal fungus

References

King Alfred's cake on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Daldinia concentrica on Wikispecies.Wikispecies
Category:Daldinia concentrica on Wikimedia Commons.Wikimedia Commons