Ghost Fungus vs Oyster Mushroom
Omphalotus nidiformis and Pleurotus ostreatus are confused for one another often enough to be worth putting next to each other.
Bioluminescent: a clump gives off enough green light to photograph by, and Australians drive out at night to do exactly that. Violently sickening, and it fruits on the same dead wood as oyster mushrooms.
Fan-shaped shelves on dead hardwood with decurrent gills. Widely cultivated and easy to recognise.
Side by side
| Omphalotus nidiformis | Pleurotus ostreatus | |
|---|---|---|
| In this game | Poisonous | Edible |
| Habitat | Not recorded yet | Tiered clusters on dead and dying broadleaf trees, especially beech and poplar. |
| Season | Not recorded yet | Autumn into winter, after the first cold snap. |
| Spore print | Not recorded yet | White to pale lilac-grey. |
This comparison cannot make a mushroom safe to eat. It sets out the few characteristics this game records, in general terms, for two species that vary by region, age and growing conditions. Real specimens overlap in ways no table and no photograph can separate, and the deadly one here is deadly in a single meal. Ask a qualified local expert, every time.
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Pleurotus ostreatus is also confused with Jack-o'-Lantern.
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