Velvet Foot (Enoki)
Flammulina velutipes
Type: gilled mushroom
Physical Characteristics
Orange-brown, smooth cap with a sticky or slimy surface when wet. The cap often features distinct striations along the margin. It typically has a dark, velvety stipe (stem).
Habitat & Growing Conditions
Grows in clusters on dead or dying deciduous wood, particularly stumps and logs of hardwood trees like elms and willows.
Season & Fruiting Time
Widely known for its ability to fruit in cold weather, commonly found in late autumn, winter, and early spring.
Similar Looking Species
Galerina marginata (Funeral Bell) which has a ring on the stipe and brown spores, and Omphalotus illudens (Jack-o'-lantern) which is larger and fruits earlier.
Ecological Role
Saprophytic (decomposing dead wood) and occasionally parasitic on living trees.
Fruiting Body
Cap is convex to flat, 2-7 cm wide, yellow-orange to reddish-brown, darker in the center, viscid. Gills are adnexed to nearly free, white to pale yellow. Stipe is 2-10 cm long, tough, covered in fine dark brown or blackish velvety hairs starting from the base.
Size
Cap diameter: 2-7 cm; Stipe: 2-10 cm long, 3-10 mm thick.
Spore Print
White
Distribution
Common throughout the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia.
Identification Tips
Look for a dark, velvety stem and a white spore print. The ability to fruit during frost or after a winter thaw is a major diagnostic feature.
Interesting Facts
This species is the wild version of the cultivated Enoki mushroom. In nature, it looks very different (larger, darker, and sturdier) than the long, white, spindly cultivated stalks which are grown in the dark with elevated carbon dioxide levels.
Safety reminder
AI mushroom identification is a best-effort estimate and can be wrong. Never use it to decide whether a mushroom is safe to handle or eat — always confirm with a qualified mycologist before any consumption.
Identified on: 5/15/2026
Mode: Standard