Where’s Wildlife · Mushroom Field Guide
Omphalotus illudens
Pronounced (approx.): om-fuh-LOH-tus ih-LOO-denz
Orange mushrooms in dense clusters on hardwood stumps or buried roots.
Jack-o’-lantern Mushroom. Select the photo to browse the gallery. Photographs © Where’s Wildlife.
NATIVE
Fruiting varies with local weather and habitat.
Orange caps and stems
True gills extending down the stem
Dense clusters associated with wood
Compare cap shapes and visible gills in the photographs below.
DSCN57892, DSCN5790 and DSCN5791 are labeled Omphalotus illudens. DSCN2482 is labeled likely Jack-o’-lantern: its underside is not visible. The photographer recalls Illinois, but the location is unconfirmed.
Chanterelles have blunt folds rather than these thin true gills and rarely form dense clusters. DSCN2482 remains tentative and is excluded from quiz questions.
Hardwood stumps and buried roots, especially oak. Late summer and fall.
A wood decomposer. Fresh gills may glow faintly in darkness.
True gills are an important identification clue.
Clusters can appear to arise from soil.
The DSCN2482 identification is tentative.
Explore reported sightings on iNaturalist. Observation records are not a complete range map.
Photographs © Where’s Wildlife.
Identification notes & comments
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