Desarmillaria caespitosa (Berk.) Antonín, J.E.Stewart & Medel

Ringless Honey Mushroom

Synonym(s): Armillaria tabescens (Scop.) Emel

Florida native

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Ringless honey mushrooms range throughout much of Florida and are found mainly in the eastern half of the United States, east Mexico and into Central America.
The fruiting bodies (the mushrooms) appear in large clusters that seem to be terrestrial but are actually growing from hardwood tree roots, typically oaks and silver maple. The caps are 3-6cm (1-3/16 to 2-3/8 in.) in diameter, convex at first, then flattening out, eventually becoming depressed in the center. The color varies from tan, light brown to cinnamon-brown and occasionally yellowish. Usually gills are short and run slightly down the stem. There is no ring (veil remnant) on the stem. The stem is 5-8cm (2 to 3-1/8 in.) long and 0.5-1cm (~3/16 to 3/8 in.) in diameter. The stems are pale-gray to brown at the top darkening to brown at the base.
This species was previously classified as Armillaria tabescens. Since then the ringless members of Armillaria were moved to the genus Desarmillaria and at the same time this species was split, with D. tabescens in Europe and the American species becoming D. caespitosa.

Desarmillaria caespitosa is a member of the Physalacriaceae - Toadstools and Chanterelles family.

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Date record last modified: Jan 11, 2024