Armillaria mellea (Vahl : Fr.) P. Kumm. 1871

Honey mushroom, honey fungus

About plant names...

The term "honey mushroom" applies to more than one member of this species. They live on trees or woody shrubs. They are parasitic—they attack living plants, as well as on deadwood. Sometimes, for reasons not yet understood, they "go crazy," causing extensive root rot and destruction.

Identification: Typically the caps are yellow-brown in color. They may be sticky when wet. The caps are convex when the mushrooms are young, but may become concave later. Some are bioluminescent—they glow in the dark. The spores of this mushroom are white.

The mycelium that produces honey mushrooms is bioluminescent, creating a soft glow in rotting wood sometimes called "foxfire."

Edibility: Young buttons are very good if the stipe is discarded (or peeled) and the buttons cooked.^{[1] [2]}

Online References:

Michael Kuo's MushroomExpert.com

Mykoweb.com: the Fungi of California

CalPhotos

Wikipedia

by Gary Emberger at Messiah College

The USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Northeastern Area

Wild Mushroom Recipes (recipes)

References:

Miller, Jr., Orson K., Mushrooms of North America, E.P. Dutton, 1979, p. 102

9/25/2012 · Beaver Brook, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 13 × 9" (33 × 22 cm)

9/23/2007 · Milford, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 11 × 8" (28 × 19 cm)

10/23/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 5 × 6" (13 × 16 cm)

10/6/2021 · Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine
≈ 11 × 7" (28 × 18 cm)

¹Mykoweb.com points out that some peoplesuffer digestive upsets when eating these

²Mushrooms of North America lists honey mushrooms as choice edibles

Armillaria mellea description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 6 May 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.

8/27/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Self-guided Nature Trail, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 8 × 6" (20 × 16 cm)

9/25/2012 · Beaver Brook, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 9 × 6" (23 × 15 cm)

8/27/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Self-guided Nature Trail, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 7 × 6" (18 × 16 cm)

8/27/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Self-guided Nature Trail, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 6 × 5" (15 × 13 cm)

9/25/2012 · Beaver Brook, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 6 × 4½" (15 × 11 cm)

10/6/2021 · Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, Freeport, Maine
≈ 13 × 9" (33 × 22 cm)

9/25/2012 · Beaver Brook, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 6 × 4½" (14 × 11 cm)

6/15/2007 · Maine · By Kathleen Williamson

10/23/2009 · Pearl Hill State Park, Townsend, Mass­a­chu­setts
≈ 8 × 8" (21 × 19 cm)

9/23/2007 · Milford, Penn­syl­vania
≈ 10 × 7" (26 × 17 cm)

8/27/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Self-guided Nature Trail, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 6 × 8" (16 × 21 cm)

6/15/2007 · Maine · By Kathleen Williamson

8/27/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Self-guided Nature Trail, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.5 cm)

9/25/2012 · Beaver Brook, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 10 × 7" (26 × 18 cm)

8/27/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Self-guided Nature Trail, Hollis, New Hamp­shire
≈ 8 × 5" (20 × 13 cm)