Jack-o’-Lantern

Family: 
Omphalotaceae
Description: 

Bright orange to yellowish orange, with sharp-edged gills descending the stalk. July–October. Grows in clusters from wood or buried wood. Cap convex, becoming flat to funnel shaped, sunken in the center, with incurved margins; orange to yellowish orange; texture smooth. Gills narrow to broad; sharp-edged; crowded; nonbranching; orange to yellowish orange. Gills descend the stalk. Stalk curved, tapering toward the base; same color as cap but darkening toward the base; texture smooth; solid. Spore print: cream. Spores magnified are round, smooth, colorless. Fragrance pleasant, fruity.

Lookalikes: Two delicious chanterelles (Cantharellus lateritius; C. cibarius) are similar in color and shape, but their undersides are smooth or have blunt ridges, not gills, and they grow singly on the forest floor (not in clusters on wood). Two honey mushrooms (Armillaria mellea; A. tabescens) are honey-colored. The big laughing gym (Gymnopilus junonius) has orange to rusty spores.

Size: 
Cap width: 2–8 inches; stalk length: 2–8 inches; stalk width: ½–¾ inch.
Habitat and conservation: 
These mushrooms are found in summer and fall, in large clusters at the base of trees, on stumps or on buried wood. These common mushrooms have caused many poisonings because they look, smell and even taste good. They cause mild to severe stomach upset but are not life-threatening to healthy adults. It’s also bioluminescent—the gills of fresh specimens sometimes give off a faint greenish glow at night or in a darkened room.
Distribution in Missouri: 
Statewide.
Status: 
Poisonous. Eating the jack o’-lantern will make you very sick for a few days. You won’t die, but you might wish you had.
Life cycle: 
This species exists most of the time as a network of fungal cells (mycelium) within rotting logs, branches or tree roots. When ready to reproduce, the mycelium develops the conspicuous cluster of mushrooms, which are reproductive structures. Spores are produced in the gills and are released to begin new mycelia elsewhere. The mycelium of a mushroom can live for decades.
Human connections: 
A chemical in this species is being explored as a possible anticancer drug. This mushroom is commonly confused with the edible chanterelle. By learning to distinguish between the two, people learn about mushroom anatomy and end up appreciating our diverse natural heritage even more.
Ecosystem connections: 
Fungi are vitally important for a healthy ecosystem. This fungus feeds off of hardwood trees such as dead oaks, decomposing their fallen logs and branches and buried roots. This cleans the forest and helps nutrients to cycle back into the soil.