Identification
Dense tufts of yellow-green caps on stumps; gills sulfur-yellow → olive-black; flesh yellow and bitter. Confused with real honey fungi — see the autumn honey fungus card.
Why it is dangerous
Per clinical reports, poisoning begins 5–10 hours after eating: vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. In severe cases transient paralysis and visual disturbances have been described — a picture resembling amatoxin poisoning.
How not to confuse with honey fungi
| Feature | Honey fungus | Sulphur tuft |
|---|---|---|
| Gills | whitish → brownish | sulfur-yellow → olive-black |
| Flesh | pale, mild | yellow, bitter |
| Ring | membranous | fragile, quickly gone |
| Spore print | white | purple-brown |