Honey Mushroom ( Armillariella mellea )
This is one of my favorite Fall edible mushrooms-in this area we call it a Stump mushroom. This is one of the last fall mushrooms that are edible to appear in this area. Depending on the weather you may see two flushes of them. The 1st around the 1st part of September. I don’t care for the 1st picking a whole lot. The insects get to them very quickly. If the weather is right they will appear again in October. At this time they are great. Very little or no insect damage. In a good year they are very plentiful. I will can the buttons whole for use during the winter. This is a fairly easy mushroom to identify. I have found that birch tree areas that have been cut over are about the best habitat to find these in. You will find them growing in large clusters off the birch tree stumps. When they 1st start to appear they are fuzzed over. Something like a deer antler in velvet. The spore print is whitish in color and many times will spread itself on the underlying mushrooms in the cluster. Making it easy to identify.However some caution should be taken. Watch what you are picking. The poisonous Amanita does not grow on stumps-however it can grow up from the ground and into the cluster. Just pay attention to what you are picking and you won’t have a problem.
Identification
Cap- 1 ¼ to 6 inches across. Very variable, convex then flattened. Color light to dark brown with age. Covered in dark hairy scales.
Gills-Attached or slightly descending. Whitish, then yellow turning brownish with age.
Veil-Partial-Leaving a thick yellow or whitish cottony ring.
Flesh white
Spore Print-whitish
This is to be used for educational purposes only. Remember if you don’t know, don’t eat. If you are new to mushroom foraging consult an expert to confirm your identification.
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