| Omphalotus olearius | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Subkingdom: | Dikarya |
| Phylum: | Basidiomycota |
| Subphylum: | Agaricomycotina |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Omphalotaceae |
| Genus: | Omphalotus |
| Species: | O. olearius |
| Binomial name | |
| Omphalotus olearius (DC.) Sing. |
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| Omphalotus olearius | |
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gills on hymenium |
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cap is infundibuliform |
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hymenium is decurrent |
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stipe is bare |
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spore print is yellow |
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ecology is saprotrophic |
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edibility: poisonous |
Omphalotus olearius, commonly known as the Jack o'Lantern mushroom, 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 possibly the simplest trait for distinguishing between the two.
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Description
The Jack o'Lantern mushroom's fruiting body (its stem and cap) is an orange color. Underneath the cap is its well-known glowing color, which glows in a blue-green color.
Similar species
The similarly poisonous mushroom Tsukiyotake (Omphalotus japonicus (Kawam.) Kirchm. & O.K. Mill., also known as Lampteromyces japonicus (Kawam.) Sing.), found in Japan and eastern Asia, emits light similar to that of the Jack o'Lantern mushroom and contains the same poison, illudin. It was confirmed in 2003 that Tsukiyotake is a relative of the Jack o'Lantern mushroom. The poisonous Western Jack o'Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus olivascens), abundant from southern to central California, is also similar to the chanterelle, but can be distinguished, as its flesh is never white.
Research and medicine
The poisonous chemical compound illudin was isolated from omphalotus illudens. Inside the cells of the body, it reacts with DNA and creates a type of DNA damage that blocks the transcription process. This block can only be relieved by a repair system called nucleotide excision repair. Damages in non-transcribed DNA areas are left unrepaired by the cell. This property was exploited by the company MGI Pharma to develop an illudin-derivative called Irofulven for use as an anti-cancer medicine. Its application is still in the experimental phase.
External links
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