Fungi · GBIF taxon 2538075
Ghost Fungus
Omphalotus nidiformisAlso known as Ghost Mushroom
Ghost mushrooms illuminate the dark forest floor with an eerie, soft green glow emitted from their gills, a phenomenon known as bioluminescence. These impressive, fan-shaped fungi grow in overlapping shelves on decaying logs and living trees, acting as both decomposers and parasites. While beautiful to observe at night, they contain harmful toxins that cause severe gastrointestinal distress if consumed.
BioluminescentFungusNight-Glowing
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Decaying Wood
- Lignin
- Cellulose
Predators
- Fungus Gnat Larvae
- Slugs
- Beetles
ThreatsHabitat clearing and removal of dead wood
HabitatsEucalypt forests, woodlands, and pine plantations
Life spanMycelium lives for decades; fruiting bodies last several weeks
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyOmphalotaceae
- SpeciesOmphalotus nidiformis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Highly toxic; many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes, so never eat wild fungi based on app identification.
Responsible observation
- Night Viewing: Visit known locations on moonless nights and allow your eyes ten minutes to adjust to the dark.
- Photography: Use a tripod and a long exposure of thirty seconds or more to capture the green glow.
- Look-alike Caution: Distinguish this toxic species from edible oyster mushrooms by its bioluminescence and growth on native Australian trees.
Look-alike voir ci-dessous / see below / CC BY 3.0 · cc-by
Close Relative Antonio Abbatiello / Public domain · cc0
Close Relative (c) Nathan Wilson, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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