Miscellaneous: Western Jack-o-Lanterns

A pretty clump of Western Jack-o-Lantern mushrooms (Omphalotus olivascens) I found yesterday. These are not deadly poisonous, but they are not edible either. They will cause severe gastric upset at the very least. They are often confused with the edible and delicious Golden Chanterelle, but a close examination reveals differences that make them easy to distinguish. 

Jack-o-Lanterns get their name from the fact that they are bio-luminescent. That is, they glow in the dark – or so I'm told. I haven't checked myself. In any case, I thought these rather attractive. Tomorrow we are going on a mushroom foraging tour with a professional guide up north in Sonoma County. Stay tuned....