[1] The fungus was described as new to science in 1976 by American mycologists Howard E. Bigelow, Orson K. Miller Jr., and Harry D.

[9] Several Omphalotus species with similar bioluminescent properties occur worldwide, all of which are presumed poisonous.

The best known are the North American jack o'lantern mushroom (O. olearius) and the tsukiyotake (O. japonicus (Kawam.)

Molecular analysis shows the jack-o'-lantern to be most closely related to the ghost fungus Omphalotus nidiformis.

[7] Miller notes that the colours and shades of the ghost fungus most closely resemble this species.