Lions Mane (Hericium erinaceus) base form. Long ago, King Hericium (The Lion) was known for his razor-sharp memory which helped his kingdom adapt during a period of great change. At the end of his days he walked deep into the royal forest and sat down with his back against a white oak tree and died. Over the years, as the tree decayed, something magical grew there and spread all through North America and Europe. It looked just like the old king's beard and is commonly called Lions Mane. So still to this day, King Hericium keeps memories sharp and helps people adapt to all kinds of stress.