Mushrooms, the spore-producing fruit of fungi, generally prefer cool, moist conditions and are thus rarely encountered during the heat of summer. Indeed, spring and fall are the seasons to observe or collect mushrooms and autumn often offers the greatest variety.
This week, Jack-o-Lantern mushrooms have appeared in our yard, clustering near old stumps, atop the wood mulch or above decaying tree roots. Named for their orange coloration and the fact that their gills, under the right conditions, produce a faint, greenish glow, these mushrooms initially have a convex cap which flattens to a disk and then takes on a larger,cupped shape as they grow; within a few more days, the cluster begins to dry out and crumbles into a darkened mass. Though fragrant (for fungi) and attractive during their growth phase, Jack-o-Lantern mushrooms are toxic to humans, producing a gastroenteritis if consumed.
Like all fungi, this species feeds on organic debris and most of the organism consists of mycelia, thread-like tendrils that course along and through decaying wood. Jack-o-lantern mushrooms are closely associated with oak woodlands and are common in forests and suburbs east of the Rocky Mountains; a related species is found in California. Once mature, the mushrooms produce millions of spores which are spread about by rain, wind, insects and small mammals, destined to become the next generation of saprophytic recyclers.
