The Spooky Side of Fungi
A witches butter mushroom (Tremella mesenterica)
As October settles in and Halloween approaches, the eerie, mystical side of nature comes alive at the Bartlett Arboretum. Autumn’s arrival brings a bounty of mushrooms and fungi, quietly thriving in the shadows. These fascinating organisms have long captured imaginations with their ghostly appearances, strange behaviors, and mysterious habits.
Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)
While it is not a mushroom, the Ghost Pipe, an otherworldly plant thrives in our woods. Pale and spectral, it doesn’t photosynthesize like typical plants. Instead, it relies on mycorrhizal fungi for nutrients, essentially siphoning energy from nearby trees. Its ghostly appearance fits perfectly with the season, a true reminder that the most enchanting mysteries often live right beneath our feet.
Witches’ Butter (Tremella mesenterica)
Despite its rather delicious-sounding name, Witches' Butter is more trick than treat. This jelly-like fungus often appears after rain, growing on dead or decaying wood. With its bright yellow-orange color and odd, brain-like texture, it's easy to imagine witches slathering it in their cauldrons. Legend has it that if Witches’ Butter grows on your door, it means a witch has placed a curse on your home. To break the spell, you’re supposed to poke the mushroom with a pin. Today, it's more likely that Witches' Butter is just doing its part in the ecosystem, decomposing dead wood and returning nutrients to the soil—an enchanting process in its own right.
Dead Man’s Fingers (Xylaria polymorpha)
These black, finger-like fungi grow from dead or decaying wood, resembling a hand reaching from the grave. They start pale and fleshy but soon darken, looking all the more morbid. While their appearance is definitely spooky, Dead Man’s Fingers are another example of how fungi break down dead matter, recycling nutrients and turning the forest floor into a lively place for new growth. So, while they might look like a Halloween horror, these fungi are vital recyclers in the ecosystem.
Jack O’Lantern Mushrooms (Omphalotus illudens)
What’s Halloween without a glowing Jack O’Lantern? Jack O’Lantern mushrooms get their name not just from their pumpkin-orange color, but also from their spooky, bioluminescent abilities. Yes, that’s right—these mushrooms actually glow in the dark! Found at the base of trees or decaying stumps, they are often mistaken for tasty chanterelles by the untrained eye.
The eerie greenish glow comes from the enzyme luciferase, the same compound that makes fireflies light up. While they may seem magical, don’t be tempted to nibble on these mushrooms—their glowing nature is matched by their toxic properties, causing intense gastrointestinal distress. Like many things in nature, the Jack O’Lantern is both beautiful and dangerous—a perfect fungal trick-or-treat!
The Dark Side of Decomposition
These spooky mushrooms might remind you of ghosts, ghouls, and witches, but they also serve a crucial purpose in nature. Many of the fungi that come to life in the fall are saprobes—organisms that decompose dead organic material. Without them, forests would be buried under mountains of debris. So, while their appearance might give you goosebumps, fungi like Dead Man’s Fingers and Witches' Butter are hard at work keeping the circle of life turning. This Halloween season, come venture into the underworld of fungi, and discover the eerie yet fascinating creatures that lurk just beneath the surface.