armillaria root rot

[ ahr-muh-lair-ee-uh ]

noun

1. a widespread rot caused by the honey mushroom, Armillariella mellea, seriously damaging to the roots of various hardwoods, conifers, and other trees.

Word History and Origins

Origin of armillaria root rot¹

< New Latin Armillaria an earlier name for the genus, equivalent to Latin armill ( a ) bracelet (referring to the braceletlike frill on such mushrooms; armillary ) + -aria, feminine of -arius -ary

Example Sentences

The giveaway, he says, are the small honey-colored mushrooms at the tree’s base, which indicate the maple has a fungus: Armillaria root rot.

From New York Times