Meet The Toxic Jack O'Lantern Mushroom

This impressive orange cluster of mushroom is the Western Jack O’Lantern (Omphalotus olivascens). It has orange spores and grows in clusters on dead/dying oak trees during fall and winter in California. This is a toxic mushroom that contains Illudens and Omphalotins, which are acutely toxic and chronically carcinogenic (DNA damage leads to cancer). Do not confuse this with a Chanterelle (which has white spores). This mushroom can be used (carefully) to dye fabrics yellow/green. It is also the br