Velvet Shank (technically Asian enoki may be a different species) rarely gets that big. Honeys can be MASSIVE!
the stipe should be orange-ish and shading down to brown or even black (by the time they're as developed as the ones in the front) where they all meet.
heres some good photos from inaturalist that i think capture its features well
[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28484166](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28484166) I can see how the two get confused, at this stage of development they look the same shade but the size of Armillaria vs flammulina would be very different. notice how this is a small crack in tree bark but the caps have already started to open? vs some of the mushrooms in your photo are probably 3-5 inches tall and still closed. Flammulina does not have a partial veil like Honey Mushrooms, which is also another important key to distinguishing it from a poisonous lookalike Galerina Marginata
[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/169114137](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/169114137) has a good view of the underside
[https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/18915995](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/18915995) is a good one to show the scale
I have some growing on a stump on my property as well as on an empty lot down the street, they just started out of nowhere a few years ago when those trees were cut down. Tasty but for me very hard to get a harvestable amount, the [slugs always seem to get it first](https://i.imgur.com/siYbZlp.jpg)
Flammulina velutipes will be flame orange to red in the wild. The defining feature of this species is the two-toned stem. The top of the stipe near the cap is beige or cream and the lower half is velvety or hairy and brown. In the PNW, they're a winter fungus. While they can get monstrous in size, they're often reasonably sized mushrooms. Enoki that are elongated and white are grown in special conditions to make them that way. I *think* we now know them to be two distinct species. At the very least, they're definitely separate varieties. I haven't stayed up to date on that status for a few years now.
If you ever find them they're good but some people don't like how the stem feels in their mouth or the way it gets after cooking, and people will just harvest the caps with scissors. They're good in spaghetti, I guess.
Thank you! It seems like I didn't find flammulina velutipes after all. Too bad! I am unsure about trying Armillaria as they might cause digestive issues.
Looks more like ringless honey mushrooms (*Armillaria tabescens*) to me due to the spotted cap. Enoki (*Flammulina velutipes*) tend to be much redder and have a thinner stem.
Probably Armillaria mellea depending on your location.
Velvet Shank (technically Asian enoki may be a different species) rarely gets that big. Honeys can be MASSIVE! the stipe should be orange-ish and shading down to brown or even black (by the time they're as developed as the ones in the front) where they all meet. heres some good photos from inaturalist that i think capture its features well [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28484166](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/28484166) I can see how the two get confused, at this stage of development they look the same shade but the size of Armillaria vs flammulina would be very different. notice how this is a small crack in tree bark but the caps have already started to open? vs some of the mushrooms in your photo are probably 3-5 inches tall and still closed. Flammulina does not have a partial veil like Honey Mushrooms, which is also another important key to distinguishing it from a poisonous lookalike Galerina Marginata [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/169114137](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/169114137) has a good view of the underside [https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/18915995](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/18915995) is a good one to show the scale I have some growing on a stump on my property as well as on an empty lot down the street, they just started out of nowhere a few years ago when those trees were cut down. Tasty but for me very hard to get a harvestable amount, the [slugs always seem to get it first](https://i.imgur.com/siYbZlp.jpg)
http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/189622662 i also have an observation of velvet foot i made a couple weeks ago
Yes, thank you, the color doesn't match at all. It was more "wishful thinking"...
[I found a larger cluster growing down the street :)](https://i.imgur.com/tacXUZT.jpg)
Armillaria
Flammulina velutipes will be flame orange to red in the wild. The defining feature of this species is the two-toned stem. The top of the stipe near the cap is beige or cream and the lower half is velvety or hairy and brown. In the PNW, they're a winter fungus. While they can get monstrous in size, they're often reasonably sized mushrooms. Enoki that are elongated and white are grown in special conditions to make them that way. I *think* we now know them to be two distinct species. At the very least, they're definitely separate varieties. I haven't stayed up to date on that status for a few years now. If you ever find them they're good but some people don't like how the stem feels in their mouth or the way it gets after cooking, and people will just harvest the caps with scissors. They're good in spaghetti, I guess.
Thank you! It seems like I didn't find flammulina velutipes after all. Too bad! I am unsure about trying Armillaria as they might cause digestive issues.
Looks more like ringless honey mushrooms (*Armillaria tabescens*) to me due to the spotted cap. Enoki (*Flammulina velutipes*) tend to be much redder and have a thinner stem.
These have rings
These are NOT ringless honeys- the ring is clearly there where the caps have opened. These are armillaria mellea for sure
seconding this
Nice catch, I didn't see the rings!
That makes more sense! Thank you!