Jack-O-Lantern: Poisonous Mushroom In Missouri

Living in Missouri means spending time outdoors is pretty much in our blood. We tend to have an adventurous spirit, which often means going off the beaten path. During our adventures, we sometimes pass animals and plants we don’t normally see. If you’re exploring during the summer or the fall, for example, you might catch a glimpse of these glow-in-the-dark, poisonous mushrooms in Missouri.

Next time you go for a hike through the woods, the forest, or even your favorite park, keep an eye out for the jack-o-lantern mushrooms, an orange mushroom that’s typically found clustered together on or under wood.

Typically orange – usually a yellowish or bright shade – the mushrooms are unique in that, in the dark, the gills give off a “greenish-yellowish” glow.

Jack-o-lantern mushrooms typically grow between July and October. The cap and the stalk can measure anywhere from two to eight inches, so they’re usually quite easy to spot.

While the jack-o-lanterns are generally not difficult to spot, you do not want to eat them, not even a bite. They’re poisonous, but not deadly.

Ingesting the poisonous mushrooms can result in severe illness, including diarrhea, vomiting, and headaches. Symptoms can be pretty debilitating, to the point that the Missouri Department of Conservation says, “You won’t die, but you may wish you had.”

Unfortunately, the jack-o-lantern mushroom looks similar to the non-poisonous and edible chanterelle mushroom (pictured above). Learning to distinguish the two, especially if you like mushrooms, will save you a lot of time and potentially painful side effects.

Learn more on the official website of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Have you run into these poisonous mushrooms in Missouri? Where did you find them? Let us know in the comments! Then take a look at these four wild animals in Missouri that are rarely seen.

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There's A Poisonous Fungus In Missouri That Glows In The Dark

Beth Price-Williams

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