Armillaria ostoyae

Posted by Mike P. 11/20/12 - - - - -0Scroll Down to See the Discussion

Mike: I don't know if anyone still reading this group does not know Armillaria ostoyae,
or if the relative beginners have found something better to do.
Anyway, I made a large collection here in SE Portland, and here are a few snapshots.
I don't have microscopic information, but for those interested in field ID,
the pinkish tan gills, dark cap with darker "hairy" center,
fibrous stem, attached gills, ring, and bits of yellow tissue on ring and stem are characters that,
taken together, I find diagnostic of honey mushrooms.

These were growing in clusters (typical) in a grassy swale around where a large tree had been removed.
Local experts: If I have assigned this to the wrong new species,
please speak up!
This matches the description of A. solidipes in MatchMaker quite well, and A. ostoyae
looks like the accepted specific for that one -- this month.

I thought that, when cooked with olive oil and garlic and
eaten with crusty bread, they were quite tasty.
Oops, I meant to say 'tan cap with darker "hairy" center'
Katie: Thank you! I have never seen these before.

Dick B: I'm no expert were Armillaria sp. are concerned but just got
thorough reading through the descriptions and looking at the pictures
in MatchMaker and have come to a different conclusion.
It seems to me that the yellow universal veil remnants and the yellow partial veil,
that shows clearly on your excellent photo,
indicates that your collection is Armillaria sinapina.-

Dick: Of course I agree with your diagnosis.
The yellow color is distinctive, and it's not mentioned above the base for O. ostoyae.
The lesson is: don't stop reading once you get a good match! There may be a better one.
And the easier lesson: look at the photos!
which I usually I do -- let's face it,
they are the easiest route -- but for some reason didn't today.