admin on September 28th, 2009

I found this at the bottom of our road. I think it is a fungus, but might be a mushroom. One thing for sure, it is pretty.

It is chilly here; suppose to go down to 45 tonight.  I think I should bring in the ferns.


10 Responses to “An odd, but beautiful, find”

  1. I think those are Jack-o-Lantern Mushrooms(Omphalotus olearius). Do they smell good? Does it glow in the dark? Pick one and take it in the house and look at it in the dark. If the gills on the underside glow green then it is a Jack-o-Lantern Mushroom. But don’t eat it or let the animals get a hold of it…they’re poisonous. Not kill you poisonous but still.

    Here’s the web page I found while googling.
    http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/oct97.html

    From Wikipedia:(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omphalotus_olearius)

    “The Jack o’Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olearius) is an orange- to yellow-gill mushroom that to an untrained eye appears similar to some chanterelles, and is most notable for its bioluminescent properties. Previous names include Omphalotus illudens and Clitocybe illudens. Unlike the chanterelle, the Jack o’Lantern mushroom is 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.

    Its bioluminescence is only observable in low light conditions when the eye becomes dark-adapted. The whole mushroom doesn’t glow — only the gills do so. This is due to an enzyme, called luciferase, acting upon a compound called luciferin, leading to the emission of light much as fireflies do when glowing.

    Unlike the chanterelle, the Jack o’Lantern has true, sharp, non-forking gills; this is the only “simple” trait for distinguishing between the two.”

  2. you know, i remember when i lived up north…well, in the midwest, sort of. We had a ficus plant- fussy thing. Had to bring it in at the first sign of a real draft. Down here they grow into these huge damn trees- i mean really really huge trees. I have some “annuals” in my yard that have been there for maybe three years now and show no signs of their “annual” being up. So the idea of bringing in the ferns kind of makes me chuckle. The idea of 40 degrees, however, makes me a little jealous. You’ll be into the fall colors soon…which is one of many things i really miss.

  3. I love fall, but I hate losing the leaves. We can see other houses when the leaves are gone.

    Happy news is that it will be October this week, and I can put out pumpkins and orange lights. I love that. We love Halloween.

    Bad news is that the dang hot tub is leaking. $$$$$$$

  4. Oh, I will take lots of pictures if the the colors are great. Last year it was if if the woods was on fire; the yellows were so bright.

  5. Bek, I will look on my way down the hill this morning to see if they are glowing. Interesting that I have never seen them before, orange being my favorite color.

    Laughed that people try them twice.

  6. Fall is sure here in Michigan. Leaves started turning a few weeks ago. It has been in the 50-40 are night for about a week. Daily it has been 50-60. Lots of rain the last few days. Good sleeping weather. The kind that makes one not get up and go to work. Flower are about half or more gone till next.

    I hope you find out about orange plant. It looks pretty.

  7. You may have to take a small one indoors to look at it or go over to the plant and stare at it for a while in the dark. Your eyes should be acclimated to the dark in order to see the eerie green glow. I never knew they glowed but then again I normally don’t pick mushrooms and stare at them in the dark either. LMAO
    It is a beautiful mushroom but I would never eat a mushroom from the wild….too afraid of accidentally killing myself. LOL

    And those people who poisoned themselves TWICE…the stupidz…it burnz! LOL

  8. Well, it is 1 AM here and it is 80 degrees. So much for fall.

    Y’all need to realize that the folks who eat mushrooms in the wild are usually the same people who lick toads. it ain’t about food. They probably don’t remember the first time.

  9. I am not touching it, picking it, looking at it in the dark, or eating it. I am not licking a toad either, but I will take more photos.

    It is 5:30 AM and 47 degrees. I think I have the urge to make an apple cake.

  10. you guys are hysterical, looking forward to more mushroom pics and sorry to hear the hot tub is leaking.

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