Omphalotus nidiformis (Berk.) O.K.Mill. Mycol. Helv. 6: 93 (1994)

Image © Barbara Archer Reproduced by permission Common Name: Ghost Fungus

This gilled toadstool has fruit bodies which are typically funnel-shaped, with a white cap which often becomes darker yellow, brown, blue or purple (especially in the centre). The gills and spore print are white. Ghost Fungus usually grows in clusters at the base of trees. The most distinctive feature of the Ghost Fungus is its strong luminescence, the purpose of which is unknown. It is poisonous, causing severe vomiting. It is sometimes confused with Pleurotus species, which are non-luminescent.

• Pileus/Cap
  5 mm up to 250 mm in diameter; sometime fan-shaped, otherwise convex then plane or when mature typically funnel-shaped; often lobed or undulate at margin; surface smooth; variable in colour from almost pure white, to paler at margin with centre darker yellow, brown, bronze, dark blue-black or purple-black or sometimes entirely dark.
• Lamellae/Gills
  White, decurrent, crowded, luminous when young.
• Stipe
  Varying from central or excentric to lateral, 50-80 mm long (occasionally almost absent), up to 40 mm diameter, expanded below; white, yellow, brown or grey; without ring.
• Smell
  None
• Spores
  8.5-9 x 4.5-5 µm elliptical to oval, smooth, not amyloid. Spore print white.
• Habitat
  Often found in large clusters; at bases of living or dead trees, or on stumps, of trees such as Eucalyptus, Leptospermum, Banksia, Grevillea, also on exotic Pinus and Platanus.
• Comments
  Omphalotus nidiformis is particularly notable because fresh specimens give off a greenish glow during darkness. It is one of only two luminous species in the Australian mycoflora.
  Although similar in appearance to edible Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus), the Ghost Fungus is poisonous, causing severe vomiting within a couple of hours of ingestion.
• References
  Bougher, N.L. & Syme, K. (1998) Fungi of southern Australia. University of Western Australia Press. [D CI] Cole, M., Fuhrer, B., & Holland, A. (1984) A field guide to the common genera of gilled fungi in Australia. Revised edition. Inkata Pres. [CI] Dunn, I., Rennick, S. & Graley, C. (1990) The Mornington Peninsula. A field guide to the flora, fauna and walking tracks. Southern Peninsula Tree Preservation Society. [CI] Fuhrer, B. (1993) A field companion to Australian fungi. The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria. [CI - including illustration of luminescence] Grgurinovic, C.A. (1997) Larger fungi of South Australia. The Botanic Gardens of South Australia and State Herbarium and The Flora and Fauna of South Australia handbooks Committee. [D] Griffiths, K. (1985) A field guide to the larger fungi of the Darling Scarp & south west of Western Australia. Published by the author. [CI] Marks, G.C., Fuhrer, B.A. & Walters, N.E.M. (1982) Tree diseases in Victoria. Forests Commission Victoria, Handbook No. 1. Forests Commission. [CI] Shepherd, C.J. & Totterdell, C.J. (1988) Mushrooms and toadstools of Australia. Inkata Press. [CI] Willis, J.H. (1967), A bibliography of the 'ghost fungus', Pleurotus nidiformis (Berk.) Sacc., Muelleria 1: 213-218.

Distribution map

Last modified on 28 May 2001

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