100 More Species #62: Armillaria gallica

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Mushrooms in the genus Armillaria are called "honey mushrooms" because of their honey-colored caps. Armillaria gallica is identified by it's bulbous base, cottony partial veil (which has become a cottony ring on the stem on this specimen), and habit of growing apparently out in the open, when we know full well that it is a parasite of tree roots. This species is itself parasitized by Abortive Entoloma, another mushroom-producing fungus. Perhaps the fact most noteworthy about this fungus is that there is one individual in Michigan that is at least 1500 years old and is 37 acres in size, and is estimated to weigh over 10 tons (9700 kg).

What a pipsqueak! There's an Armillaria ostoyae in Oregon that's 2200 acres!