Jack-o'-Lantern vs Oyster Mushroom
Omphalotus olearius and Pleurotus ostreatus are confused for one another often enough to be worth putting next to each other.
Glows faintly in the dark and is regularly mistaken for chanterelles. Causes violent vomiting and cramps.
Fan-shaped shelves on dead hardwood with decurrent gills. Widely cultivated and easy to recognise.
Side by side
| Omphalotus olearius | Pleurotus ostreatus | |
|---|---|---|
| In this game | Poisonous | Edible |
| Habitat | Clustered at the base of living or dead broadleaf trees, especially olive and oak. | Tiered clusters on dead and dying broadleaf trees, especially beech and poplar. |
| Season | Late summer to autumn. | Autumn into winter, after the first cold snap. |
| Spore print | Cream to pale yellow. | White to pale lilac-grey. |
The recorded spore prints differ: cream to pale yellow for Omphalotus olearius, white to pale lilac-grey for Pleurotus ostreatus. That is one documented difference, not a test you can pass.
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.
Read more
Omphalotus olearius is also confused with Golden Chanterelle and Pale Chanterelle.
Play today’s puzzle →