King Alfred lived in the 9th century when parts of Britain had been overrun by Vikings.
When King Alfred was trying to escape from the Dane, a lovely peasant women gave him a shelter in her home, this women loved baking cake by the fire. One day she asked King Alfred to watch over her cake, with his mind occupied of other things, he unintendedly let the cakes burt to coal, the peasant women wasn't very happy and scolded him for his negligence.
He was embarrassed and ashamed, he threw the cakes and scattered them throughout the forest to hide his mistake.
As the fungus looks like a burnt cake, the name King Alfred went in comon use.
This fungus is not edible but the older ones are great for starting fires similar to charcoal briquette, it smoulders for a long time.
It is said that our ancestors used this fungi to transport their fire whilst travelling around.
And ohh, this branch looks like a reptile (just my imagination) 🤣
A lovely day to all! 💚