King Alfred's cake

English edit

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Etymology edit

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 edit

King Alfred 's cake (uncountable)

The fungus (Daldinia concentrica).
Synonyms: cramp balls^{(Please check if this is already defined at target. Replace {{vern}} with a regular link if already defined. Add novern=1 if not defined.)}, coal fungus