The Jack O'Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olearius) is an orange to red gill mushroom that is similar in appearance to the chanterelle, and most notable for its bioluminescent properties. Previous names include Omphalotus illudens and Clitocybe illudens. Unlike the chanterelle, the jack o'lantern mushroom is very poisonous. While not lethal, consuming this mushroom leads to very severe cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea. Complicating its toxicity is the fact that it smells and looks very appealing, to the extent that there are reports of repeat poisonings from individuals who were tempted to try them a second time. Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Divisions Chytridiomycota Zygomycota Glomeromycota Ascomycota Basidiomycota Yellow fungus Fungus growing on a tree in Borneo A fungus (plural fungi) is a eukaryotic organism that digests its food externally and absorbs the nutrient molecules into its cells. ... Classes Subdivision Teliomycotina    Urediniomycetes Subdivision Ustilaginomycotina    Ustilaginomycetes Subdivision Hymenomycotina    Homobasidiomycetes - mushrooms The Division Basidiomycota is a large taxon within the Kingdom Fungi that includes those species that produce spores in a club_shaped structure called a basidium. ... former Orders Subclass Homobasidiomycetidae    Agaricales    Boletales    Cantharellales    Corticiales    Ganodermatales    Gomphales    Hericiales    Hydnales    Hymenochaetales    Polyporales (Aphyllophorales)    Poriales    Russulales    Schizophyllales    Stereales    Thelephorales Subclass Gasteromycetidae    Lycoperdales    Nidulariales    Phallales    Sclerodermatales    Tulostomatales The Class Homobasidiomycetes is a taxonomic division in the Subdivision Hymenomycotina of the Division Basidiomycota (in the Kingdom Fungi). ... Families Agaricaceae Amanitaceae Bolbitiaceae Cortinariaceae Crepidotaceae Entolomataceae Hygrophoraceae Omphalotaceae Pleurotaceae Pluteaceae Podaxaceae Psathyrellaceae Schizophyllaceae Strophariaceae Tricholomataceae Members of the order Agaricales are some of the most familiar types of mushrooms. ... Recently erected thanks to genetic analysis, this family was formerly a part of Tricholomataceae. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature refers to the formal method of naming species. ... Augustin Pyrame de Candolle Augustin Pyrame de Candolle (February 4, 1778 - September 9, 1841) was a Swiss botanist. ... Drawn image of Elias Magnus Fries Elias Magnus Fries (August 15, 1794 – February 8, 1878) was a Swedish botanist born at Femsjö in Smalandia. ... Rolf Singer (June 23, 1906 - January 18, 1994) was a German-born mycologist and one of the most important taxonomists of gilled mushrooms (agarics) in the 20th century. ... Basidiocarps (mushrooms) of the fungus Leucocoprinus sp. ... Species Cantharellus is a genus with many delicious and popular edible mushrooms. ... Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism as the result of a chemical reaction during which chemical energy is converted to light energy. ... The skull and crossbones symbol traditionally used to label a poisonous substance. ... A cramp is an unpleasant sensation caused by contraction, usually of a muscle. ... Vomiting (or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of ones stomach through the mouth. ... Diarrhea (AmE) or diarrhoea (CwE) is a condition in which the sufferer has frequent and watery or loose bowel movements (from the ancient Greek word διαρροή = leakage; lit. ...

Its bioluminescence is generally only observable in low-light conditions with acclimated eyes. The whole mushroom doesn't glow—only the gills. This is due to luciferase, the same type of chemical that fireflies use to glow. However, in this case, the luciferase is a waste product, and is transported to the gills to get it out of the mushroom. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Luciferase is a generic name for enzymes commonly used in nature for bioluminescence. ... Genera Curtos Cyphonocerus Drilaster Ellychnia Hotaria Lampyris Lucidina Luciola - (Japanese fireflies) Photinus - (common eastern firefly) Photuris Pristolycus Pyractomena Pyrocoelia Stenocladius Fireflies (family Lampyridae), also known as lightning bugs, are nocturnal, luminous beetles. ...

Unlike the chanterelle, the jack-o-lantern has true, sharp, non-forking gills; this is the only "simple" trait for distinguishing between the two.

Similar Species

The poisonous mushroom Tsukiyotake (月夜茸, ex.Lampteromyces japonicus (Kawam.) Sing.) found in Japan emits light similar to that of the Jack O'Lantern mushroom, and contains the same poison (Illudin). It was confirmed that Tsukiyotake was a companion of Jack O'Lantern mushroom in 2003, and was given the scientific name (Omphalotus guepiniformis (Berk.) Neda)[1]. The poisonous Western Jack O' Lantern Mushroom, Omphalotus olivascens is abundant in South & Central California, it is also similar to the chanterelle but can be distinguished as its flesh is never white. Sesquiterpene and antitumor antibiotic produced by some mushrooms. ... 2003 (MMIII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...