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HONEY MUSHROOM

Edible, therapeutic and toxic mushrooms
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HONEY MUSHROOM

Armillaria mellea, Armillaria ostoyae
Frequency 
Plentiful
Medium
Size
Habitat
There are many species of Honey Mushroom in Quebec. The most desirable are those that fructify on or around the stumps, roots and dead trunks of white and yellow birch. Once a colony is implanted, it invades the stumps and trunks of other deciduous and coniferous trees. The Honey Mushroom parasitizes the roots of trees, killing them. It then acts as a wood decay fungi and decomposes the timber. roots and stumps left behind by loggers. The Honey Mushroom grows on or close to the ground, never high up.
Cap
Convex then spread out, with brown scales, coloured in various shades of brown.
Margin
Inroled at first and then spread out, even.
Gills
Adnate, short-gills frequent,whitish to pinkish.
Stalk
Equal to enlarged downward. Whitish towards the apex, brownish towards the base, adorned with a clearly visible ring on the stipe.
Flesh
Whitish, often yellow at the base of the stipe.
Unfit for human consumption
As soon as the cap opens, the stipe shrinks, darkens and becomes unfit for consumption. When brown spots appear on the gills, the cap become unfit for consumption. So we should always pick the fruitbodies at the button stage.
Comments 
Harvesting generally takes place after the first cold periods in autumn, from roots and stumps left behind by loggers. The mushroom develops black mycelial strands a few mm in diameter that travel from one stump to the next, connecting tens of different stumps, which fructify at the same time. The most important part of the flesh is the stem. The mushroom should therefore be picked at the button stage in order to fully enjoy its culinary qualities and the totality of the flesh. It is not recommended for raw consumption; some people experience digestive problems from this mushroom and should avoid eating it.
More photos 
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Formation
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