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| Here we have a black oak (Quercus velutina), which we have previously covered on this blog. Wait. What's that at the base of the tree, nestled between the surface roots? |
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| That's unusual. Is it a mushroom? |
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| Yes! It's a cluster of orange mushrooms. |
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| This appears to be a variety of Armillaria, but we don't know which species. Mushrooms are notoriously difficult to identify. This may be a fungus called "Oak Root Rot," which may or may not be a bad sign for the future vitality of our black oak. We later found four or five other clusters of mushrooms in various corners of the arboretum. |
LSU AG Center's article on seasonal Armillaria
