POISONOUS AND HALLUCINOGENIC MUSHROOMS
by Michael W. Beug Email: beugm@evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College, Olympia WA
Slide 52.
Omphalotus olearius, the Jack O'Lantern, exists in
three variants or three different species depending on your viewpoint:
a European form typically associated with olive trees, an orangish eastern
species associated with hardwoods, and a greenish-orange California species
associated with oaks. All glow in the dark. The eastern variant, known
as Omphalotus illudens, has often been mistaken for Chanterelles
and the mistake makes itself apparent in one to three hours with the onset
of gastric upset lasting anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Abdominal
pain, headache, a sense of exhaustion, sleepiness, feeling cold, weakness
and dizziness are common. Diarrhea and sweating are uncommon. Internal
bleeding has been reported in some cases. Terpinoid compounds are the important
toxins. Early researchers reported muscarine in Omphalotus species,
but except in some European cases, there are usually no PSL symptoms characteristic
of muscarinic poisoning.
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