Jack-o'-lantern mushroom: Difference between revisions

The jack-o'-lantern mushroom is a bright orange or yellowish orange color. The cap, stalk, and gills are all the same or very similar in color. It has a smooth texture on the cap and stalk. The cap can be flat or rounded at the edge, and one of its most notable features is the large dip in the center. The gills on the bottom of the cap can be narrow or broad and are sharp-edged, crowded, and non-branching. The gills also have a green glow in the dark feature to them, called bioluminescence. The stalk is usually curved and tapers off toward the base. The spores are cream colored and round.<ref name=mdconline>Unknown. [http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/jack-o-lantern Jack-o'-lantern] ''mdconline''. Web. May 27, 2013 (Date of Access). </ref> <ref name=Northern Virginia Ecology>Authorlastname, Firstname. [http://http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/jack_olantern.htm Jack O'Lantern] ''Study of Northern Virginia Ecology''. Web. May 27, 2013 (Date of Access). </ref>

These mushrooms are often mistaken for other edible mushrooms, most notably the chanterelle mushrooms, because they look extremely similar and smell and taste very good, but they are actually poisonous. They aren't fatal to healthy adults, but cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, headaches, and exhaustion.<ref name=mdconline/> <ref name=Northern Virginia Ecology/>