These Jack O’Lantern mushrooms (Omphalotus illudens) were the colorful highlight of today’s hike.

Appropriately, for the winter solstice, today was overcast and dark. There isn’t much color right now and it’s rained recently so the ground was damp. These might be perfect conditions for mushrooms and we came upon a patch of these beautiful specimens.

They grow quite large. Some of these are over a foot in diameter. They grow in clusters on decaying wood and their orange color gives them their name.

Jack O’Lantern Mushrooms

Here’s a small clump of mushrooms. These are smaller and appear younger. They have down-curved, smooth edges. The caps are also smooth and have a pretty, brown mottling.

Close Up Of Jack O’Lantern

Here’s a larger, older mushroom. It is growing singly. You can see that the cap has flattened out and the edges are now ruffled.

Later Stage Jack O’Lantern

Although I didn’t try to see it, they also glow. Their gills are bio-luminescent.

They’re extremely poisonous and easily confused with edible chanterelles. As I always warn people: don’t eat wild mushrooms! Most are poisonous and they are hard to identify. Satisfy your taste buds with ones from the grocery.