Honey Mushrooms?

[SheepHeadReaper]

October 1, 2016 Northeast Pennsylvania these mushrooms are ubiquitous allover deadwood stumps and Dead branches. We had three days of rain, so these mushrooms were wet when I picked them, they didn't have very pronounced prickly tops although the ones under logs that remained dry did. My friend who normally picks these is used to finding them much more yellow. Everything I see online and in my field books says yellow to brown. I have also seen a bunch of people on YouTube with this coloration of honey mushroom. Doing a spore print now, and would like any input. Thank you very much! Also found a couple sheep heads and chickens!

[Dave W]

Armillaria features several different species that commonly occur in NE PA. A. mellea is often yellow-capped and sometimes with few hairs/scales on the cap surface. This species can also be brown-capped. Another one is A. gallica, which has fibrous partial veil. A. ostoyae is another one. Some types are very pale tan. Some local "popinkie" collectors recognize only one of these species/types. This is likely why you have received variable information about identifying them.

A few of our local club members joined me last Sunday for a foray. We got plenty of Honey Mushrooms representing at least two different species. I took home about 3-4 pound of excellent material. Like you say, they're all over the woods right now. Be careful to avoid accidentally tossing something else into the basket/bag. When there's lots of Honeys out there, the gathering quickens. 

[SheepHeadReaper]

Thanks you so much Dave great info! Been reading up lots on these. Very interesting stuff!