Identifying Lemon Honeycap (Armillaria limonea)

Take great care when identifying wild plants and fungi, this blog is not a resource to be taken by itself and further resources will be linked. Consult other sources and double check. While foraging is an extremely rewarding and useful skill, numerous common plants and fungi can make you sick or kill you. Be absolutely sure of what you’re eating and, when gathering, ensure you leave enough not only to ensure the survival and growth of the species but also enough for others to enjoy, from the human and more-than-human communities. Also cultivate an awareness of contamination and pollution – wastewater runoff, spraying, exhaust fumes – as this should affect your decision to harvest.

The Mushroom

Armillaria limonea is a somewhat edible species of mushroom in the family Physalacriaceae and is presumed to be native to Aotearoa, New Zealand (though may also be linked to South America). Armillaria means “with bracelets”, referring to the ring on the stipe of the mushroom. I could not find out what the specific epithet of “limonena” is referring to, though the name could come from the lemon yellow centre which is a distinct characteristic of this mushroom. Armillaria species are often called “harore” in Māori, but this word is often used as a general term for most fungi whether edible or not. Many edible species of Armillaria are commonly referred to as “honey” mushrooms. Lemon honeycap are parasitic, consuming living matter for nutrients.

Description

This species has a dry cap which is yellow in the centre and fades out to a white/cream and is dotted with dark brown tufted scales which are more dense in the centre of the cap. The immature mushrooms are rounded and have a veil covering their gills before the cap flattens out into a irregular wavy circle up to 10cm in diameter. The older mushrooms, especially when wet, can become sticky and brown. They have white decurrent gills where they attach to the 5-15cm stipe which is also a white cream though can become very brown, long, and firm with age. There is a distinct white ring around the top of the stipe. Armillaria limonea produce a white spore print.

Ecology

Lemon honeycap grows parasitically on Northofagus trees, spreading via rhizomorphs under the bark of the tree, and they will eventually kill their host tree after many years. They can be found growing in large clusters in most native woodlands in autumn and winter.

Possible Lookalikes

Honey Mushroom (Armillaria novae-zelandiae) is one of three Armillaria species found in Aotearoa and is the preferred mushroom for eating. Honey mushrooms appear in clusters but are a tan/brown colour with only the immature mushrooms having white scales on the cap.

Armillaria hinnulea is the other Armillaria species found in Aotearoa. The look much more similar to the novae-zelandiae as they are brown and start of with brown scales. The margins are generally striated. I have not been able to source whether they are edible.

Honey Fungi (Armillaria mellea) looks similar to limonea and is a sought after edible mushroom when cooked. I am not entirely sure though whether this mushroom is found in Aotearoa.

Interesting Facts

Armillaria species are bioluminescent and can produce a subtle light in the dark! The wood that has been decayed can also flow faintly because of the remaining hyphae in the bark.

In the 70’s and 80’s Armillaria species were the cause of a massive loss of Pinus radiata trees planted on sites of cleared native bush. Estimates of pine seedling mortality was up to 50% over 50,000 hectares of land which was formerly covered in podocarp-hardwood forest.

Storage & Cooking

Armillaria species can cause sickness when eaten so be sure of correct identification, make sure they aren’t too eaten by bugs or bacteria, and cook them thoroughly. The stems can be quite firm and are generally not eaten. Armillaria novae-zelandiae is considered delicious and edible whereas Armillaria limonea is apparently bitter and not as commonly eaten.

Further Reading

iNaturalist

Hidden Forest

Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research

Phil Bendle Collection