Jack-o'-Lantern Mushroom

Description:

These poisonous mushrooms are found in summer and fall, in large clusters at the base of trees, on stumps or on buried wood. These common mushrooms have caused many poisonings because they look, smell and even taste good. They cause mild to severe stomach upset but are not life-threatening to healthy adults.

Notes:

Jack-o’-lanterns have a pleasant, fruity fragrance. They are sometimes mistaken for the edible chanterelle, which can have the same orange color and also has a pleasant smell. Chanterelles, however, have flat-edged, interconnecting ridges or wrinkles instead of deep, straight gills, and they grow on the ground. The poisonous jack-o’-lantern has knifelike, non-branching gills and grows in clusters from wood (even buried wood).