I've searched all my books and did research online as well, but I can't find an identification for this. The difficult thing I can't seem to match is the unusual stalks, which are darker below the ring. Any ideas?
Google thinks it's a honey fungus.
Yes! That does look like it. Thanks much! ๐
Here it is showing a different angle.
Because of how dehydrated these are I am reluctant to agree that it is for sure a honey mushroom (Armillaria mellea). It doesn't look like any honey mushroom I've seen in the woods, though it bears certain resemblances, namely the annulus and the habit (growing from a tree root). It could well be a honey mushroom, I just don't usually see them that dry looking. And usually in much bigger clusters around Oak trees where I live. I just personally don't feel sure enough to say it would be safe to collect and eat and to me they are certainly not anything to write home about anyway. I prefer when they interact with entalomas to create the aborted entaloma.