OK Mushroom Guys

[Eric Krewson]

These popped up in the back yard today, I am pretty sure the smaller ones are ringless honey mushrooms but not enough to eat one.

The larger clump is very distinctive with a brown stem, defined gills and almost flower looking false petals on top. I can't find it in any of my mushroom references or on line.

[mullet]

Eric, I've been picking mushrooms since moving to SC and have about ten pounds in the freezer. Those do look like Honey Mushrooms in the reference books I have but not enough pictures to really identify them with enough confidence to eat one. Tractor Supply has a really good book of edible mushrooms I just bought yesterday and I highly recommend it. It's name is Mushroom Hunter.

[Eric Krewson]

Here is the spore print from the suspected honey mushrooms, white like it is supposed to be.

[mullet]

They look like what just popped up in my backyard in large clusters.

[TrevorM]

Yeah I'm no expert either, but I'd say honey mushrooms too. There's a facebook group for the Alabama Mushroom Society, you might want to join and ask them.

[SDBurntStick]

I get these coming up all over my woods in MO late August through October as well if conditions are right.  I always thought they were honey mushrooms too but am a little apprehensive to try some of the capped mushrooms without a microscope and looking at spores.  What are they growing on?  I think honey mushrooms are parasitic/sapropyte.  Helps to identify substrate.

[chamookman]

Wish I knew how to post Pics, Dang it! Last week I had a "Fairy Ring" of Meadow Mushrooms. The Ring was about 20' - 30', took 3 Days to get them Positively Identified. A Bud took some Home and ate them for a Couple of Days . Seems the more I try to learn about Schrooms, the less I know  ! The only Mushroom I rely on is the Spring Morels - can't go wrong there ! Bob

[mullet]

I sent Steve Parker pictures of mine in the backyard, he told me to leave them alone. He said brown mushrooms are too hard to identify and there are several that look alike that will really mess you up. Right now we are picking Puff Ball mushrooms and they are really good and easy to identify.

[Eric Krewson]

My mushroom hunting neighbor confirmed that my mushrooms were honey mushrooms and told me he had been eating them this year when they first popped up. He also said they had to be cooked very well and not to eat but a small amount the first time to see how your body tolerated them, they cause digestive distress in some people.

After letting both groups age it is apparent that the larger mushrooms in the second picture are much older honey mushrooms that are past their prime. The pretty mushrooms in the first picture aged to look the same as the ones in the second picture.