Nature in your Neighborhood

Let's learn about... Jack O'Lantern Mushrooms

(picture taken by Board Member Katie at Coronado Woods)

The Jack O'Lantern Mushroom gets its name from some very distinctive characteristics.

They are a beautiful, bright orange color - the same color as a pumpkin you might choose to carve for Halloween.

Fun Fact! Jack O'Lantern Mushrooms also have a very unique feature: theses mushrooms glow in the dark - how cool is that?! It certainly does make this Halloween-named fungus seem a little spooky!

Did you know? The ability for an organism to produce and emit light is called bioluminescence. Jack-o-lantern mushrooms get their ability to glow from an enzyme called Luciferase. This enzyme is found in the mushroom’s gills - that means the frilly underside of the mushroom.

Scientists aren't sure why the Jack-O-Lantern mushroom glows, although one theory is that it attracts nocturnal insects to assist in spreading their spores.

Jack-o-lanterns are a type of saprotrophic fungi - that means they are decomposers. They break down organic matter to get their energy! Delicious!

Safety Tip: Jack-O-Lanterns are a highly toxic variety of mushroom. If you eat them, they can cause extreme intestinal distress. This is especially concerning because they do have an edible look-alike: Chanterelle mushrooms. Unless you are 100% sure what you are picking, you should never try to harvest mushrooms for consumption.

Nature in your Neighborhood: Discover the magic that lies outside!