a Honey Fungus - Armillaria

Description

There are now considered to be several species of Honey Fungus, but they can be difficut to tell apart.  They are variable in colour from honey-coloured to brownish-yellow, through red-brown to a darker brown, with darker scales.  

They are serious parasites of many species of trees and shrubs, often responsible for the death of specimen trees, fruit trees, hedgerow shrubs etc. in parks and gardens.  The long black 'bootlaces' or rhizomorphs can be found under the bark of dead and dying trees.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

If you are recording the 'bootlaces' or are not sure of the identity of your Honey Fungus, please record it as this (genus only); photograph from top down, in side view and underneath to show gills, ring and full length of stipe; note habitat and substrate.

Habitat

At the base of living trees or stumps

UK Status

Common

VC55 Status

Common

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Species group:
fungus
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Agaricales
Family:
Physalacriaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
4
First record:
05/10/2025 (Wright, David)
Last record:
24/11/2025 (Hollingworth, Jane)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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