Australian ghost fungus
Scientific name: Omphalotus nidiformis
Synonyms: Ghost fungus, Glowing mushroom
Distribution and habitat in nature: The Australian ghost fungus is a weak parasite and secondary decomposer on trees. As its name suggests, it is found in Australia, Tasmania and India. It occurs all year round in suitable weather conditions.
Suitable substrate: Wood chips (eucalyptus, beech, oak, bankasia, agonis, corymbia, allocasuarina)
Usage:
Inedible mushroom, poisonous mushroom, bioluminescent
The Australian ghost mushroom is a striking, whitish to cream-coloured mushroom with a funnel-shaped cap and downward-sloping gills. It is known for its bioluminescence – its gills glow greenish in the dark, especially when humidity is high. The mushroom prefers to grow on dead wood in the humid forests of Australia, Tasmania and parts of Asia.
It is poisonous and inedible – consumption can cause severe gastrointestinal problems. Although it contains no significant nutrients, it is scientifically important: its light-active enzymes and the illudin S it contains are being investigated in cancer research, genetic engineering and environmental monitoring.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Fungi
Class: Agaricomycetes
Subclass: Agaricomycetidae
Order: Agaricales
Family: Marasmiaceae
Genus: Olive mushrooms (Omphalotus)
Species: Australian ghost mushroom (Omphalotus nidiformis)
Spores: white, round to ellipsoid, 7.5 - 9.5 x 5 - 7 µ
Breeding conditions:
The detailed cultivation conditions for this mushroom are currently still being researched!
