| There are several forms of Honey Fungus, and in many
books they are all given the scientific name Armillaria mellea
even though it is now accepted that there are several distinct species.
This parasitic fungus can do immense damage to forests; it
attacks both coniferous and broad-leaf trees. By the time the
fruit bodies are in evidence, the damage internally is usually so great
that the tree is doomed.
Cap |
5 to 15 cm in diameter; colour ranging from
honey-yellow to red-brown, with a darker area near the centre. The cap
flesh is white and firm.
Initially deeply convex, the caps flatten and often develop wavy,
striated margins. Fine scales cover the young caps, most noticeably
towards the centre. These scales do not always remain evident as the caps
reach maturity. |
Gills |
The weakly decurrent gills are crowded and
flesh coloured, gradually becoming yellowish and finally developing rusty
spots at maturity. |
Stipe
|
When young, the stems are white, turning yellow or yellowish-brown and
finely woolly as the fruit body matures.
5 to 15 mm in diameter and 6 to 15 cm tall with a finely woolly surface. The
stem flesh is white, full and fairly firm. A pale yellow ring usually
persists to maturity. |
Spore print |
White. |
Odour/taste |
Faint acidic odour and taste strongly acidic.
(Considered edible if well cooked, but some people find this mushroom
indigestible.) |
Habitat |
Parasitic on or up against broad-leaf and conifer trees;
also occurring on stumps and roots, and occasionally on fallen branches. |
Season |
July to November. |
Occurrence |
Very common. |
Similar species |
- Some experts sub-divide the Honey Fungus into several species; others
lump them together. For example, some varieties of Honey Fungus have
very scaly caps and small stem rings; others are almost devoid of scales
but have large white rings.
- Armillaria tabescens, sometimes referred to as the Ringless
Honey Fungus, is very similar but has no stem ring and its gills turn
pinkish-brown at maturity.
- Pholiota
squarrosa is generally similar in colour and covered in scales;
it retains an in-rolled margin, its gills turn uniformly rusty-brown,
and it has a radish smell and taste.
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