Armillaria mellea (Vahl) P.Kumm. 1871
Saprotrophic and pathogenic on dead and living hardwoods east of Appalachians. Causes root rot. Grows in clusters at base of infected trees in fall. Yellowed leaves and dieback on branches at crown of tree are symptomatic of Armillaria infection.
Caps are honey-colored, viscid when wet, generally lack central brown fibrils. White gills and spore-print. Thick, wooly partial veil on stipe. Base of each stem is pointed. Black rhizomorphs under bark. Armillaria are in the Physalacriaceae family in the Agaricales order.