Ghost Fungus (species: Omphalotus nidiformis) in Fraser Island (Gaia Guide)
Fraser Island > Fungi > Basidiomycota > Agaricomycetes > Agaricales > Marasmiaceae > Omphalotus > Omphalotus nidiformis (gallery)
Omphalotus nidiformis
Ghost Fungus


©David Witherall and Matt Prider: Omphalotus nidiformis

©Shihmei Barger: Ghost Fungus (Omphalotus nidiformis)

©Casliber: Ghost Fungus (Omphalotus nidiformis)

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Kingdom Fungi
Division Basidiomycota
Class Agaricomycetes
Order Agaricales
Family Marasmiaceae
Genus Omphalotus
Species Omphalotus nidiformis

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Distinguishing features

The fan- or funnel-shaped fruit bodies are cream-coloured caps overlain with shades of orange, brown, purple, or bluish-black. The white or cream gills run down the length of the stipe, which is up to 8 cm (3 in) long and tapers in thickness to the base. The fungus is both saprotrophic and parasitic, and its fruit bodies are generally found growing in overlapping clusters on a wide variety of dead or dying trees.

They may be first seen at night as a pale whitish glow at the base of trees in a eucalypt forest. (Wikipedia)

Size

  • Up to 30 cm (Width)

Synonyms

Similar taxa

Interesting facts

  • It is bioluminescent.

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution: Omphalotus nidiformis

Web resources

Danger

  • significant discomfort - Consumption causes vomiting and severe cramps. (Wikipedia)