Species details
Dark honey fungus
Armillaria ostoyae
Conditional / expert preparation
Photo: Agnieszka Łubian · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A brown scaly honey fungus with a white ring edged brown, growing in clusters on stumps, roots and living or dead wood.
Identification features
The cap is 4–7 cm wide, brown with denser dark scales centrally. Gills start white and later become brownish. The stem is cylindrical and floccose below a white ring edged brown.
Identification checklist
Check clustered growth on wood, the dark-scaled cap and especially the persistent white ring with a brown edge.
How to separate similar species
Sulphur tufts lack such a ring and have different gill colours. Other Armillaria are also very similar, so use several characters together.
Habitat
Fruits in autumn in large clusters on stumps and roots of conifers and other trees, sometimes parasitic on living wood.
Fruiting period
September, October, November
Similar species
- Honey fungus (Armillaria mellea)
- Armillaria gallica
- Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare)