Jack O Lantern Omphalotus illudens

Identification
This mushroom has bright orange caps and clustered growth.

Location
Common statewide

Size
3 to 8 inch caps

Diet
It feeds on decaying wood.

Habitat
It occurs on stumps and buried roots.

Activity Period
July to October

Behavior
It glows faintly in the dark. It appears in large clusters.

Lifecycle
Fruiting occurs in late summer.

Population
The population is stable statewide.

History
It has long been widespread in Ohio.

Human Interactions
It is toxic if eaten.

Facts
Its gills can glow with bioluminescence.

Sources
ODNR academic sources

Wood decay | Stumps roots buried wood | Statewide