honey mushroom (Armillaria mellea) in Winneshiek Co. IA 854A3537
Honey mushrooms are one of the last mushrooms to emerge around here in autumn, though the big bunches popped out while I was on vacation. This particular species, A. mellea, has the distinction of being the biggest living organism on earth - one particular mycelium stretching out for 3.8 km across Oregon's Blue Mountains. Note the honey-colored cap and the distinctive ring around its stem. This is a very choice edible, but collectors beware because a somewhat similar mushroom, the deadly galerina, will kill you in short order. Just be sure to make a spore print if you're unsure about your ID, which will be white if you have the honey mushroom (brown for the deadly galerina). I had some honey mushrooms for supper tonight and they were to die for.
honey mushroom (Armillaria mellea) in Winneshiek Co. IA 854A3537
Honey mushrooms are one of the last mushrooms to emerge around here in autumn, though the big bunches popped out while I was on vacation. This particular species, A. mellea, has the distinction of being the biggest living organism on earth - one particular mycelium stretching out for 3.8 km across Oregon's Blue Mountains. Note the honey-colored cap and the distinctive ring around its stem. This is a very choice edible, but collectors beware because a somewhat similar mushroom, the deadly galerina, will kill you in short order. Just be sure to make a spore print if you're unsure about your ID, which will be white if you have the honey mushroom (brown for the deadly galerina). I had some honey mushrooms for supper tonight and they were to die for.