The base of an oak tree covered in several large clusters of 20 to 50 honey-colored mushrooms, the caps all overlapping each other. Some bits have been chomped on here and there, leaving white flakes of gills exposed.

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   Cat (cat_lefey@pagan.plus)'s status on Thursday, 02-Oct-2025 00:26:37 JST Cat

   Mushroom week continues. Today's gem is Armillaria solipides, also known as "Honey Mushroom." This parasitic fungus can infect living trees and spread through hundreds of acres of forest through tendrils of rhizomorphs called 'shoestrings.' It is considered the largest terrestrial organism on Earth.

   Yes, they are edible, but gross. Extremely woody, tastes like chewing tree bark with a light glaze of corn syrup. When cooked, they turn to black goo. Wild animals like deer and skunks love them, though, and seeing animal bites out of them is almost a hallmark for identification.

   Found in big clusters at the base of hardwoods, they're easier to identify when they're small because the caps are covered in little black fuzzy hairs, which aren't as prominent when fully open. (Zoom on the 2nd pic to see them.)

   #Mushtodon