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Ghost fungus

Omphalotus nidiformis

Photo by MartinL
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

Of course I thought its an edible oyster fungus but this ghost fungus is quite poisonous. It is called a ghost fungus because it glows an eerie green in the dark (bioluminescence).
http://ashdown4628.clients.cmdwebsites.com/blog/?p=191
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/38624072

Habitat:

Within the Bendigo botanical gardens, growing out of an old rotting stump.

Notes:

The staff at the gardens set me straight about the fungus of mistaken identity. They refused to shake my hand when they realized I had been collecting a fungus loving beetle from the fungus. I wonder if the beetle inherits bioluminescence.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (1)

Good background story. Thanks as it corrected one of mine. These are not fatally poisonous but can give extreme cramps and 'the runs' (glow-in-the-dark).
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 14, 2013

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