Armillaria mellea is a plant pathogen and a species of Honey fungus. It causes Armillaria root rot in many plant species. The mushrooms are edible but some people may be intolerant to them. The fungus produces mushrooms around the base of trees it has infected. As the fungus causes root rot, symptoms also appear in the crowns of infected trees as death and dieback of the branches. This species is capable of producing light via bioluminiscence.
Armillaria mellea grows throughout North America and other parts of the world. The fruiting body or mushroom known as stump mushroom, stumpie, honey mushroom, pipinky or pinky grows typically on hardwoods but may be found around and on other living and dead wood or in open areas.