Source-reviewed species profile
Dark honey fungus Armillaria ostoyae
Brown scaly cap, robust ring with dark scales beneath and white spore print. This profile covers broad field features, season and habitat for learning.
Where can I find dark honey fungus?
In clusters on roots, stumps and at the base of conifers.
In Mycoverse you can select Dark honey fungus and compare candidate search areas using a species-specific assessment of rainfall, estimated soil moisture, temperature, forest type, tree signals, canopy cover, terrain and season. Where source coverage is available, the assessment also uses historical species observations. Historical observations are historical data, not recent finds.
Images, text and app suggestions cannot confirm a species or food safety.
Field features
- Brown scaly cap, robust ring with dark scales beneath and white spore print.
Habitat and search guidance
In clusters on roots, stumps and at the base of conifers.
Months
August–November
Safety status
Not presented as food. Never use the app to decide whether a mushroom is safe to eat. Not presented as a food mushroom. This profile supports learning and safer boundaries; it does not approve a finding.
Sources and review status
- USDA Forest Service – Field Guide to Common Macrofungi in Eastern Forests
- USDA Forest Service – North American Fungi Protochecklist
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Last reviewed: 4 October 2026.