Species map · Armillaria mellea
Honey fungus map of Turkey: where and when it grows
Our map holds 48 verified records of the honey fungus (Armillaria mellea) from 5 provinces of Turkey. Most come from İstanbul, Bolu, Osmaniye and Düzce; records peak in October, November and December.
- records
- 48
- provinces
- 5
- regions
- 3
- latest record
- Oct 2026
Records by province
- Marmara 42
- Black Sea 5
- Mediterranean 1
Linked provinces have their own page with every species recorded there. Record density also reflects where observers work.
Which months?
This page covers only where and when the species is recorded in Turkey. For identification and edibility, see the species page. Built from research-grade, geo-referenced GBIF and iNaturalist records, refreshed at the start of every month.
Poisonous look-alikes of the honey fungus
- Funeral bell Galerina marginata Deadly poisonous
- Sulphur tuft Hypholoma fasciculare Poisonous
Records by region: Marmara 42; Black Sea 5; Mediterranean 1. Most records come from İstanbul, Bolu, Osmaniye, Düzce and Yalova.
Records peak in October, November and December; about 45% of dated records fall in September–November and 0% in March–May.
Honey fungus fruits in autumn after the first rains, from late September to December; Turkish GBIF records cluster between October and January.
Honey fungus grows on the roots and trunk bases of broadleaf trees, less often conifers, and on stumps; it spreads through the soil with black, bootlace-like strands called rhizomorphs.
Funeral bell (Galerina marginata, deadly): Smaller and grows singly or in small groups on wood; its spore print is rusty brown and its ring thin and membranous. It contains amatoxins and is deadly.
Sulphur tuft (Hypholoma fasciculare, poisonous): Sulphur-yellow cap, gills turning from yellow to greenish and then purple-brown, no ring and a very bitter taste.
Ringless honey fungus (Armillaria tabescens, edible): Has no ring on the stem; the same cautions as for honey fungus apply.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the honey fungus grow in Turkey?
Most records come from İstanbul, Bolu, Osmaniye, Düzce and Yalova.
When does the honey fungus fruit in Turkey?
Records peak in October, November and December.
Which province has the most honey fungus records?
İstanbul, followed by Bolu, Osmaniye and Düzce. The order also reflects where observers are active.
What habitat does the honey fungus prefer?
Honey fungus grows on the roots and trunk bases of broadleaf trees, less often conifers, and on stumps; it spreads through the soil with black, bootlace-like strands called rhizomorphs.
Can I pick mushrooms where they are recorded?
A record is not a permit. Commercial picking in state forests needs a permit; picking in national parks is prohibited.
How current is this map?
Records are re-fetched from GBIF and iNaturalist at the start of every month and this page updates automatically.
What should I do in case of mushroom poisoning?
Call 112 at once; Turkey's poison centre is 114.
Sources
- 6831 sayılı Orman Kanunu (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
- 2873 sayılı Millî Parklar Kanunu, md. 14 (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
- GBIF ve iNaturalist: Türkiye gözlem kayıtları (sitemizin haritası) gbif.org
All sources (6)
- Wikipedia (EN): Armillaria mellea en.wikipedia.org
- First Nature: Armillaria mellea first-nature.com
- GBIF: Türkiye kayıtları gbif.org
Data sources and licences
Observations from GBIF.org (human observations and herbarium specimens; records flagged with geospatial issues excluded) and iNaturalist research-grade records, retrieved 2 November 2026. Macrofungi only (Agaricomycetes, Pezizomycetes), named to species. Every point links to its own record, with the recorder and licence (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-NC).
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Province centres: Wikidata. Region comes from the record's GADM province, or the nearest province centre when missing. For protected species (iNaturalist "threatened" or IUCN VU/EN/CR) locations are rounded to ~10 km; locations obscured by iNaturalist are marked "approximate".
An observation shows that a mushroom was seen there on that day, not that it is there now or that it may be picked. Counts reflect how many people record fungi in an area more than how common a species is.
Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial teamReport a correction