Boot-lace fungus, Honey mushroom
Armillaria mellea

Family: Tricholomataceae

What it is like

A mushroom. The mushroom is honey coloured. It has a thickened base and a ring when young.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in clumps on the roots of trees and dead stumps.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Alaska, Armenia, Asia, Balkans, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Caucasus, Central America, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, East Africa, Europe, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Himalayas, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Mediterranean, Mexico, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, North America, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, Slovenia, South Africa, South America, Southern Africa, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, West Africa

How it is used for food

The young caps or fruiting bodies are eaten cooked. They are also pickled, salted, dried, marinated, or added to soups. It needs to be well cooked, and the liquid secreted while cooking is discarded, as it is toxic. Some people can be intolerant to this fungus.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Mushroom, fungus

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Chiodini, Cottonwood mushroom, Honey fungus, Honungsskivling, Mantchkvala, Nara-take, Peke, Pike, Rangagno, Xopitza, Yema, Yemita, Zhenmo

Synonyms

Armillariella mellea (Wahl. ex fries) Karsten; Clitocybe mellea (Wahl.: Fries) Ricken;