Jack O' Lantern Mushrooms (Omphalotus illudens)
Description:
Brilliant orange-capped mushrooms with decurrent, pale orange gills and pale orange/yellow stipes growing in clusters. Caps are slightly depressed towards centers (in some) and convex (in others). Omphalotus illudens has a history of being confused with edible golden chanterelles but can easily be distinguished from chanterelles by its true gills. Making this mistake can lead to ingestion of the poisonous compounds, illudin S and illudin M, which can lead to extreme gastrointestinal distress (with several day duration) and possible hallucinations. Interestingly enough, pharmaceutical companies have taken an interest in the cytotoxic illudins, and MGI Pharma has developed the illudin-derivative, Irofulven, for cancer treatment.
Habitat:
Top of forest ridge, growing in thick mulch/leaves below a chestnut oak tree, on buried roots. In a dense mixed hardwood forest in Northwest Georgia.
"Omphalotus illudens" is commonly called the jack-o'lantern mushroom. It is a large orange mushroom that is often found in clumps on decaying stumps, buried roots or at the base of hardwood trees in eastern North America. Its gills often exhibit a weak green bioluminescence when fresh.
