Laura Smith
Ghost mushrooms, also known as ghost fungi, are bioluminescent mushrooms that emit a soft green glow in the dark. They are poisonous and should not be eaten. They are native to Australia and can be found growing on decaying plant material, particularly in pine forests. Ghost mushrooms were brought to public attention in 2017 when photographer and visual artist Ockert le Roux captured their glow in a series of stunning images. The scientific name for the ghost mushroom is Omphalotus nidiformis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Omphalotus nidiformis |
| Common Names | Ghost fungus, Australian glow fungus |
| Appearance | Resembles oyster mushrooms; variable cap colour (cream, orange, brown, grey, purple, bluish-black); lighter margin (cream or tan); darker shades at the centre; younger specimens are darker |
| Bioluminescence | Glows faintly in the dark, emitting a soft green or pale green light |
| Habitat | Native to Australia; found in colonies in Southern Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and the southern parts of Western Australia and South Australia; grows on dead or diseased wood, decaying plant material, and tree trunks and stumps in eucalypt and pine forests |
| Seasonality | Best time to look is autumn, especially after rain |
| Toxicity | Poisonous; consumption causes severe cramps, nausea, and vomiting due to the presence of compounds called illudins |
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What You'll Learn
Ghost mushrooms are bioluminescent
Ghost mushrooms, or Omphalotus nidiformis, are bioluminescent fungi that emit a soft green glow at night. They are native to Australia and can be found growing on decaying plant material, particularly in pine forests, after a pine tree harvest. Ghost mushrooms are poisonous and should not be consumed, as they contain a powerful emetic that causes nausea, severe cramps, and vomiting. Their toxic properties are attributed to compounds called illudins.
The ghost mushroom's scientific name, Omphalotus nidiformis, is derived from the Latin terms "nidus", meaning nest, and "forma", meaning shape or form. Its common name, ghost fungus, comes from its ghostly appearance, with its pale whitish glow in the dark. The local Aboriginal people of Australia also associated the ghost mushroom with spirits, calling it "chinga".
The ghost mushroom was first described in 1844 by English naturalist Miles Joseph Berkeley, who remarked that it was a "far more magnificent species" than the oyster mushroom, with which it shared a genus at the time. However, it was Scottish naturalist James Drummond who first observed and documented the ghost mushroom's bioluminescence in 1841. He wrote, "when this fungus was laid on a newspaper, it emitted by night a phosphorescent light, enabling us to read the words around it".
The ghost mushroom's bioluminescence is due to the oxidation of a compound known as luciferin in the presence of the enzyme luciferase, which produces light. While the chemical pathway is well-known, scientists are still unsure why the ghost mushroom glows. Some experiments have shown that bioluminescence can attract spore-dispersing insects to particular fungi, but this does not seem to be the case with the ghost mushroom. Instead, researchers believe that bioluminescence may be an incidental by-product of metabolism.
Ghost mushrooms can be found in colonies in Southern Australia, particularly in Victoria, Tasmania, and the southern parts of Western Australia and South Australia. They grow on dead or diseased wood, especially on tree trunks and stumps. The best time to look for them is in autumn, after rainfall. While they can be spotted at night by their dim glow, they are easier to find during the daytime, when their distinctive colours and shades can be seen.
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They are poisonous
Ghost mushrooms, or Omphalotus nidiformis, are poisonous fungi that should not be consumed. While not lethal, their consumption leads to severe cramps, nausea, and vomiting. The toxic properties of the mushroom are attributed to compounds called illudins.
Young ghost mushrooms can be easily mistaken for edible oyster mushrooms, which they closely resemble. However, unlike oyster mushrooms, ghost mushrooms are toxic. This powerful emetic, or vomit-inducer, causes nausea and vomiting.
The ghost mushroom is a bioluminescent fungus, emitting a soft green glow at night. It is native to Australia and can be found growing on decaying plant material, particularly pine tree stumps and trunks in eucalypt forests. The cap of the ghost mushroom is very variable in colour, sometimes cream but often tinted with orange, brown, grey, purple, or even bluish-black shades. The margin is generally lighter in colour, with cream or tan edges, while the centre usually has several darker shades, and younger specimens tend to be darker.
The ghost mushroom was first described in 1844 by English naturalist Miles Joseph Berkeley, who felt it was related to Agaricus ostreatus (now known as Pleurotus ostreatus). However, he noted that it was a "far more magnificent species". The specific epithet nidiformis is derived from the Latin terms nidus (meaning "nest") and forma ("shape" or "form"), thus "nest-shaped". The common names of this fungus include ghost fungus and Australian glow fungus.
Several Omphalotus species with similar bioluminescent properties occur worldwide, and all are presumed poisonous. The best-known relatives of the ghost mushroom are the North American jack-o'-lantern mushroom (O. olearius) and the Tsukiyotake (O. japonicus), found in Japan and East Asia.
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They are native to Australia
Ghost mushrooms, or ghost fungus, are native to Australia. They are found in colonies in Southern Australia, as well as Victoria, Tasmania, and the southern parts of Western Australia and South Australia. They are also found in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. Ghost mushrooms are bioluminescent and emit a soft green or pale green glow at night. They grow on decaying plant material, dead or diseased wood, and are commonly found on tree trunks and stumps in pine forests. They are poisonous and should not be eaten.
The scientific name for the ghost mushroom is Omphalotus nidiformis. The species was initially described in 1844 by English naturalist Miles Joseph Berkeley as Agaricus nidiformis. The specific epithet nidiformis is derived from the Latin terms nidus ('nest') and forma ('shape' or 'form'), hence 'nest-shaped'. The ghost mushroom was previously considered a member of the same genus as the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus) and was described under the former names Pleurotus nidiformis and Pleurotus lampas. However, it is now classified in the genus Omphalotus, along with other bioluminescent mushrooms.
The ghost mushroom's bioluminescence is due to the oxidation of a compound generically known as luciferin in the presence of the enzyme luciferase. While the chemical pathway is well-known, scientists are unsure why the mushroom glows. Some experiments have shown that bioluminescence in other fungi attracts spore-dispersing insects, but this does not appear to be the case with the ghost mushroom. Researchers have concluded that bioluminescence is more likely an incidental byproduct of metabolism rather than conferring any selective advantage.
Ghost mushrooms have a variable appearance, with caps that can be cream, orange, brown, grey, purple, or bluish-black. The margin is generally cream or tan, while the centre usually has several darker shades, and younger specimens tend to be darker. They resemble oyster mushrooms, which are edible, so it is important to distinguish between the two to avoid accidental consumption of the toxic ghost mushroom.
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They were discovered in 1841
Ghost mushrooms, or ghost fungus, are bioluminescent fungi that emit a soft green glow at night. They are native to Australia and grow on decaying plant material, particularly on dead or diseased wood, such as tree trunks and stumps in pine forests. They are often found in the southern regions of Australia, including Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia, and South Australia.
The ghost fungus was initially described in 1844 by English naturalist Miles Joseph Berkeley, who classified it as Agaricus nidiformis. However, he felt it was related to Agaricus ostreatus (now known as Pleurotus ostreatus) and remarked on its magnificent nature. Over time, the classification of the ghost fungus has evolved, and it is now known by the binomial name Omphalotus nidiformis, reflecting its unique characteristics.
The ghost mushroom's bioluminescence is attributed to the oxidation of a compound called luciferin in the presence of the enzyme luciferase. While the chemical pathway is understood, the purpose of the fungus's glow remains a subject of scientific inquiry. Some experiments have suggested that the light may attract spore-dispersing insects, but this theory has been challenged. Instead, it may be an incidental byproduct of the fungus's metabolism.
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They are similar in appearance to oyster mushrooms
Ghost mushrooms, or Omphalotus nidiformis, are a bioluminescent fungus that emits a soft green glow at night. They are often found in colonies in Southern Australia, growing on decaying plant material, particularly pine trees. Ghost mushrooms are toxic and cause severe cramps, nausea, and vomiting if consumed. They are similar in appearance to oyster mushrooms, which are edible, but there are some key differences to note.
Oyster mushrooms, or Pleurotus ostreatus, were once considered part of the same genus as ghost mushrooms due to their similar appearance. However, they are now classified under the genus Pleurotus, while ghost mushrooms belong to the genus Omphalotus. Oyster mushrooms do not possess the same bioluminescent properties as ghost mushrooms and do not emit a glow.
The cap of the ghost mushroom is variable in colour, ranging from cream to orange, brown, grey, purple, or even bluish-black shades. The margin is generally cream-coloured, while the centre often has several darker shades. Young ghost mushrooms are usually darker in colour. In comparison, oyster mushrooms typically have a lighter-coloured cap, ranging from white to cream or light brown.
Another distinguishing factor between the two mushrooms is their habitat. Ghost mushrooms are commonly found on dead or diseased wood, particularly in eucalypt and pine forests. They can often be spotted at night as a pale whitish glow at the base of trees. On the other hand, oyster mushrooms are more versatile and can grow on various substrates, including wood, straw, and even coffee grounds.
It is important to note that while ghost mushrooms and oyster mushrooms share some physical similarities, they are different species with distinct characteristics. Misidentifying one for the other can have harmful consequences, as consuming ghost mushrooms can lead to unpleasant side effects. Therefore, it is crucial to be able to differentiate between the two, especially when foraging for edible mushrooms.
In summary, ghost mushrooms and oyster mushrooms may appear similar at first glance, but they differ in terms of toxicity, bioluminescence, colour variation, and preferred habitat. By paying attention to these details, one can easily distinguish between the two and avoid any potential hazards associated with consuming toxic mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Ghost mushrooms, or ghost fungi, are bioluminescent—meaning they generate their own light and glow in the dark.
The ghost mushroom's cap is variable in colour, sometimes cream, but often tinted with orange, brown, grey, purple, or even bluish-black shades. The margin is generally cream, while the centre usually has several darker shades, and younger specimens are often darker.
Ghost mushrooms are native to Australia and grow on decaying plant material, tree trunks, and stumps left behind following a pine tree harvest. They are particularly easy to spot in pine forests.
Yes, ghost mushrooms are poisonous and should not be eaten. Consumption of ghost mushrooms leads to severe cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
The best time to see ghost mushrooms is in autumn, particularly after a bit of rain.
