Honey Fungus

Armillaria mellea

Family: Physalacriaceae

Honey Fungus (Armillaria mellea)
Photo:Stu's Images(CC BY-SA 3.0)View original source →

Overview

Honey-colored clusters at the base of living and dead hardwood trees across Europe, North America, and East Asia. Parasitic — a serious orchard and forest pest. Edible WELL COOKED (toxic raw); some people sensitive even cooked. Distinctive cottony white ring and dark hairs on the cap centre.

Edibility
Edible
Rarity
common
Trophic mode
parasitic-saprotrophic

Host trees & substrate

  • Local forest substrate

Key identification features

  • Honey-yellow cap with dark scales / hairs centrally
  • Cream-coloured ring on stem
  • Cream-white gills
  • White spore print
  • Clustered at base of trees / stumps

See live fruiting predictions for Honey Fungus on the forecast home page, or browse the full field guide.

Always confirm wild-mushroom identification with multiple sources and a knowledgeable local expert before consuming. Read the foraging safety guide.