Armillaria lutea - Опёнок толстоногий - Thick-stemmed Honey Mushroom

Armillaria lutea - Опёнок толстоногий - Thick-stemmed Honey Mushroom - Dickerstieliger Hallimasch 9/8/10—9/11/21

Armillaria lutea, commonly known as the Thick-stemmed Honey Mushroom or Dickerstieliger Hallimasch in German, is a medium-sized mushroom species belonging to the Physalacriaceae family. The cap of this fungus measures 4 to 14 cm in diameter, with a convex to flat shape and a smooth surface. The cap color ranges from ochre-brown to reddish-brown, often with a slightly darker center. The gills of Armillaria lutea are adnate to slightly decurrent (running down the stem) and white to cream in color. The stem is 6-18 cm tall and 1-3.5 cm thick, with a whitish to yellowish-brown color and a bulbous base, giving the species its common name. Armillaria lutea can be found in temperate forests across Europe and Asia. It grows in clusters around the bases of living or dead trees, particularly on hardwoods, from late summer to late autumn. The chemistry of Armillaria lutea is not well studied, but it is considered an edible mushroom when cooked, with a mild, slightly sweet taste. The spores of Armillaria lutea are white, elliptical, and measure 7-10 x 5-6 micrometers. They are produced in basidia and are released into the environment for reproduction and dispersal. Armillaria lutea is known for its ecological role as a wood decomposer, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients within forest ecosystems. This process contributes to the cycling of nutrients and overall forest health. The fungus is also known as a weak pathogen, causing root rot in some tree species, though its pathogenicity is considered to be less aggressive than that of Armillaria ostoyae and Armillaria mellea. Armillaria lutea has been studied for its potential medicinal properties, with research suggesting that it may contain compounds with antioxidant, anticancer, and immunomodulatory effects.