{"id":10059,"date":"2021-11-30T11:32:20","date_gmt":"2021-11-30T11:32:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/?p=10059"},"modified":"2022-09-22T12:00:20","modified_gmt":"2022-09-22T17:00:20","slug":"how-to-identify-a-jack-olantern-mushroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/how-to-identify-a-jack-olantern-mushroom\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Identify A Jack O\u2019Lantern Mushroom?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Jack o\u2019lantern mushrooms are known for their bright orange clusters that sometimes glow in the dark. But they are poisonous and easy to confuse with some edible mushrooms, so it\u2019s important to be able to recognize them properly. In this article, we\u2019ll talk about how to identify a jack o\u2019lantern mushroom and how to tell it apart from its most popular edible lookalike, the chanterelle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Do I Know if I Picked a Jack O\u2019Lantern Mushroom?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/6-5.jpg\" alt=\"How Do I Know if I Picked a Jack O\u2019Lantern Mushroom\" class=\"wp-image-10058\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/6-5.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/6-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/6-5-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/6-5-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Jack o\u2019lanterns are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/how-toxic-is-jack-olantern-mushroom\/\">poisonous mushrooms<\/a> that grow during the same season as the chanterelle&#8211;a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/jack-olantern-vs-chanterelle\/\">similar looking mushroom<\/a> that\u2019s edible. Both the jack o\u2019lantern and the chanterelle grow during summer and fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With this in mind, it\u2019s extremely important to know how to identify each one individually and be able to tell them apart. We\u2019ll talk more about telling them apart in a few minutes, but for now, let\u2019s discuss how to know if the mushroom you just picked is a jack o\u2019lantern.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jack o\u2019lanterns are usually dark yellow, amber, or orange in color. They tend to grow in large, tightly packed clusters, though on rare occasions they can be found growing singly.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Young jack o\u2019lanterns have smooth, rounded caps that flatten out and become more funnel-shaped as they mature. The caps often break apart and curl as they flatten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out this timelapse video to get an idea of how jack o\u2019lanterns grow and change over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"container-lazyload preview-lazyload container-youtube js-lazyload--not-loaded\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kmR7Aaldgx8\" class=\"lazy-load-youtube preview-lazyload preview-youtube\" data-video-title=\"Timelapse 720p jack &#039;o lantern mushroom - over 9 days\" title=\"Play video &quot;Timelapse 720p jack &#039;o lantern mushroom - over 9 days&quot;\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kmR7Aaldgx8<\/a><noscript>Video can&#8217;t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kmR7Aaldgx8\" title=\"Timelapse 720p jack &#039;o lantern mushroom - over 9 days\">Timelapse 720p jack &#039;o lantern mushroom &#8211; over 9 days (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=kmR7Aaldgx8)<\/a><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jack o\u2019lanterns grow near or on dead trees and pieces of decaying wood. Even if it looks like they are growing from the ground, their mycelium is attached to dead pieces of wood or roots underground.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The underside of a jack o\u2019lantern cap has firm, distinct gills that extend down the relatively narrow stem. These gills can be separated fairly easily, especially using a knife or tweezers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like some other poisonous mushrooms, jack o\u2019lanterns are able to glow in the dark. This is due to a luminescent enzyme known as luciferase that is present in the mushrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where are Jack O\u2019Lantern Mushrooms Found?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As noted above, jack o\u2019lanterns grow from dead tree stumps or pieces of wood. Sometimes they can be found growing directly from the dead wood, such as on old rotting logs or at the base of tree stumps; other times they appear to grow from the ground near dead trees, sprouting from rotting wood or roots buried underground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Jack o\u2019lanterns grow widely in woodland regions of Europe but can also be found in parts of North America and Africa. <\/strong>They may grow in a variety of temperate woodland areas as long as the weather is warm and moist and there are hardwood trees (especially dead ones) present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Do You Tell a Jack O\u2019Lantern from a Chanterelle?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re new to hunting mushrooms, you may be concerned about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/jack-olantern-vs-chanterelle\/\">confusing jack o\u2019lanterns with chanterelles<\/a>. While it is true that these mushrooms can look quite similar, they have many distinct characteristics to help you tell them apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, it will help to check out the following video. It will give you a great video and make it easier to distinguish the poisonous jack o\u2019lantern from the edible chanterelle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"container-lazyload preview-lazyload container-youtube js-lazyload--not-loaded\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9aOwgaIFKMY\" class=\"lazy-load-youtube preview-lazyload preview-youtube\" data-video-title=\"Chanterelle &amp; Jack O&#039;Lantern \u2014\u00a0Mushroom ID\" title=\"Play video &quot;Chanterelle &amp; Jack O&#039;Lantern \u2014\u00a0Mushroom ID&quot;\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9aOwgaIFKMY<\/a><noscript>Video can&#8217;t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9aOwgaIFKMY\" title=\"Chanterelle &amp; Jack O&#039;Lantern \u2014\u00a0Mushroom ID\">Chanterelle &amp; Jack O&#039;Lantern \u2014\u00a0Mushroom ID (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9aOwgaIFKMY)<\/a><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chanterelles come in a variety of colors including yellow, pink, white, black, and red. The yellow ones are the only ones that may be confused with jack o\u2019lanterns, but they are almost always a lighter, softer shade of yellow whereas jack o\u2019lanterns are usually darker and brighter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chanterelles have thick ridges sometimes known as \u201cfalse gills;\u201d these may vary in appearance depending on the chanterelle, but they are rarely well defined and, in most cases, are not easily separated from the mushroom caps. They are called false gills because they rarely have the classic mushroom gill appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, jack o\u2019lanterns\u2019 gills are usually firmer, more well-defined, and more closely attached to the cap. They are smooth and well-structured, and they always have the classic mushroom gill appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you slice them open, chanterelles are usually whitish inside and may have a cheese-like appearance. Jack o\u2019lanterns are pale yellow inside, and the flesh has a more woody appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>One major difference is that chanterelles typically grow more singly or than jack o\u2019lanterns. Chanterelles may occasionally grow in clusters, but these clusters are usually smaller and not so tightly packed together as jack o\u2019lantern clusters.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chanterelle usually grow singly or scattered; clusters rarely contain more than about 5 or 6 mushrooms. Jack o\u2019lanterns , as noted above, are usually found in dense clusters, which may contain 12 or more mushrooms, and very rarely grow singly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Another major difference is that chanterelles tend to grow near live hardwoods, as they have a mycorrhizal relationship with these trees. Also, chanterelles never grow directly from the wood&#8211;they are always found growing from the ground.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chanterelles typically have a fruity, sweet sort of aroma, while jack o\u2019lanterns have a more non-distinct mushroomy smell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can You Touch a Jack O\u2019Lantern Mushroom?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Despite their status as a poisonous mushroom, jack o\u2019lanterns are perfectly safe to touch. Their toxins can only be absorbed through digestion, so you have to eat them to be poisoned by them.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, it\u2019s a good idea to thoroughly wash your hands after handling them. Always be careful not to put your fingers or anything else that has touched a jack o\u2019lantern in your mouth until you\u2019ve washed with soap and clean running water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/mdc.mo.gov\/discover-nature\/field-guide\/jack-o-lantern\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Missouri Department of Conservation<\/a>, accidentally ingesting jack o\u2019lanterns should not prove life-threatening to most healthy adults. Still, their toxins can cause severe stomach upset that leads to vomiting and diarrhea, which in turn can cause dehydration, so it\u2019s best to avoid eating them and use caution when handling them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/jack-olantern-mushroom\/\">Jack o\u2019lantern mushrooms<\/a> look similar to the edible chanterelle mushrooms, but they are usually darker yellow and grow in larger clusters than chanterelles. They are usually found growing on or near dead trees, while chanterelles are always found growing from the ground under live trees.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jack o\u2019lantern mushrooms are known for their bright orange clusters that sometimes glow in the dark. But they are poisonous and easy to confuse with some edible mushrooms, so it\u2019s important to be able to recognize them properly. In this article, we\u2019ll talk about how to identify a jack o\u2019lantern mushroom and how to tell &#8230; <a title=\"How To Identify A Jack O\u2019Lantern Mushroom?\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/how-to-identify-a-jack-olantern-mushroom\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How To Identify A Jack O\u2019Lantern Mushroom?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10056,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[114],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10059"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10059"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10059\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11965,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10059\/revisions\/11965"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestwildlife.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}