Ghost fungus

Description:

A medium sized mushroom with a flattish pale yellow and stained looking top hanging like a tablecloth. Some darker almost indigo colouring at the centre. Pileus (120mm across), flattish, with 'hanging' margin, patchy pale yellow, white and tint of indigo at centre; stipe short (30mm) smooth, white; gills uncrowded, white with yellow tint, very decurrent.

Habitat:

Growing out of a large Coastal Banksia log in very sandy soil right next to the beach line.

Notes:

These are well known as 'glow-in-the-dark' mushrooms providing a spectacle at night. They also look pretty good in daylight. Fairly common in Victoria and known to grow on Banksia timber. (see ref) Toxic although while not lethal consumption gives severe cramps and vomiting. http://www.blueswami.com/omphalotus_nidi... http://www.elfram.com/fungi/fungi_o/omph...