Spectacular rustgill
Gymnopilus junonius · 橘黄裸伞
Occasional层腹菌科⚠️ Poisonous
Reference sources list this as a poisonous mushroom.
The same species can be described differently across regions and stages of maturity, and countless look-alike species cannot be told apart by eye. Never use the information on this page to judge whether a real mushroom is safe to eat.
How to Tell
- Cap large, orange-yellow to rusty orange, clustered on stumps and tree bases
- Gills rusty brown; stem with a membranous ring
- Flesh yellow, extremely bitter
ID notes are compiled by AI from public sources, not reviewed by a mycologist, for learning only — never a basis for foraging.
Basics
- Family
- 层腹菌科
- Hymenium
- Gills
- Grows On
- Wood
- How Big
- 5–15 cm (cap diameter)
- Encounter Rate
- Occasional
- Habitat
- Hardwood stumps, in large clumps
Easily Confused With
Honey fungusHoney fungus has white gills and a white spore print; spectacular rustgill has rusty-brown gills, a rust spore print and a very bitter taste.
Deadly webcapCap reddish brown to orange-brown, conical, finely fibrous
Gypsy mushroomGypsy mushroom has a frosted cap and pale brown gills; spectacular rustgill is orange-yellow with rusty-brown gills and a bitter taste.Fun Fact
Japan calls it the 'laughing mushroom,' after records of unusual excitement following ingestion; its golden clusters are hard to miss on autumn tree stumps.