Armillaria mellea

Armillaria mellea
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Agaricales
Family:	Physalacriaceae
Genus:	Armillaria
Species:	A. mellea
Binomial name
Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P.Kumm. (1871)
Synonyms[1]
Agaricus melleus Vahl (1790) Agaricus sulphureus Weinm. Armillaria mellea var. glabra Gillet (1874) Armillaria mellea var. maxima Barla (1887) Armillaria mellea var. minor Barla (1887) Armillaria mellea var. sulphurea (Weinm.) Fr. (1879) Armillariella mellea (Vahl) P.Karst. (1881) Clitocybe mellea (Vahl) Ricken (1915) Lepiota mellea (Vahl) J.E.Lange (1915)

Armillaria mellea Mycological characteristics
	Gills on hymenium
	Cap is convex or flat
	Hymenium is adnate or subdecurrent
	Stipe has a ring
	Spore print is white
	Ecology is parasitic
	Edibility is choice or can cause allergic reactions

Armillaria mellea, commonly known as honey fungus, is an edible basidiomycete fungus in the genus Armillaria. It is a plant pathogen and part of a cryptic species complex of closely related and morphologically similar species. It causes Armillaria root rot in many plant species and produces mushrooms around the base of trees it has infected. The symptoms of infection appear in the crowns of infected trees as discoloured foliage, reduced growth, dieback of the branches and death. The mushrooms are edible but some people may be intolerant to them. This species is capable of producing light via bioluminescence in its mycelium.

Armillaria mellea is widely distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The fruit body or mushroom, commonly known as stump mushroom, stumpie, honey mushroom, pipinky or pinky, grows typically on hardwoods but may be found around and on other living and dead wood or in open areas.