Omphalotaceae: Shiitake and the Jack O'Lantern

What Defines Omphalotaceae

Omphalotaceae is a family of gilled, wood-associated mushrooms whose members look nothing alike at a glance. Their link lies in their structure, and the silhouette tells you little about it. Shared ancestry does not mean shared appearance or edibility.

Shiitake, the Prized Member

Shiitake grows on hardwood logs and ranks among the most cultivated mushrooms in the world. It is safe cooked, meaty, and forgiving to grow at home on logs or sawdust. Cook it thoroughly, because raw or lightly cooked shiitake can cause an itchy rash in some people.

Jack O'Lantern, the Toxic Member

The jack o'lantern grows in dense orange clusters on wood and stumps. It has true, sharp gills, and its fresh gills can glow faintly in the dark. People mistake it for a chanterelle and end up with hours of cramps and vomiting.

Ghost fungus also glows green in the dark and grows in overlapping clusters on wood, especially eucalypts. Its poisonings happen in daylight, when someone takes a pale cluster for an oyster mushroom, so the glow plays no part. If the base is tough and stringy, leave the cluster.

Identifying Past the Family Name

Two relatives in this family show the problem plainly, one for the pan and one for the emergency room. Shiitake is the cooked staple, and the jack o'lantern is the cluster you leave on the stump. Always identify to species, and never stop at the family.