Warning: this is NOT A BEGINNER's mushroom.





This mushroom cannot be positively identified by observing features alone, a spore print must be done for positive identification. This mushroom has many lookalikes, some of which are deadly, others will make you very sick. Use the following tips as a guideline only, but confirm your identification with other reliable sources and a trusted local expert.





As always, it's your responsibility to make sure you are 100% sure of any wild plant or mushroom you consume.





Finally, even when properly ID-d, ringless honeys are notorious for giving some people ACUTE GI problems. Always try a very small amount, like a single cap, for the fist time, then a small portion (3-4), before you consume a whole meal's worth.

Where and when to find ringless honey mushrooms:

All of these mushrooms probably come from the same mycelium, which sends up many fruiting over the course of a week.

How to find them:

Clustered growth from one base:

Caps:

Left: young mushrooms, caps about the size of a dime. They are harder to ID at this size, and should not be eaten.Right: caps the size of a quarter. This is a good starting size for ID.

Occasionally darker specimens may be found, where it's harder to observe the key cap features. Avoid these abnormal fruitings until you are very familiar with the fungus, as they increase the list of potential lookalikes

Gills:

Stem features:

Spore print:

A spore print is essential for positive identification of Armillaria tabescens.

With the black and red printing, the blocky text, and the surreal spore prints, it could almost be an album cover

Sometimes the spores will already have released, effectively spore printing the ground under the cluster.

Preparation and edibility:

Lookalike Species

I've tried to accumulate information on every conceivable lookalike for the ringless honey. Some of these aren't poisonous. I have listed from most to least dangerous.

Deadly Galerina: deadly poisonous

Sulphur Tuft: poisonous

Jack O'Lantern: poisonous

Pholiota species: possibly poisonous

Inky caps: possibly poisonous

Ringed honey mushrooms: edible

The velvet foot: edible

The velvet foot, caps (left) and velvety brown stem which gives the name (right)

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