Sarah Brown
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that comes in a variety of shapes and colours. They are usually plain and drab, but over 70 species of mushrooms can glow in the dark, transforming them into wondrous sights. This phenomenon, called foxfire, occurs mostly in fungi growing on decaying wood. The light is produced by a chemical reaction between enzymes and chemicals called luciferins, which creates photons. While some mushrooms like Armillaria mellea are edible, others like Omphalotus nidiformis are toxic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of glow-in-the-dark mushroom species | 70-120 |
| Mushroom parts that glow | Cap, stem, gills, mycelia, fruit bodies |
| Purpose of glowing | Attract insects to spread spores, attract arthropod predators, discourage animals from eating the mushroom |
| Glowing mechanism | Chemical reaction between enzymes and chemicals called luciferins, including caffeic acid |
| Notable glow-in-the-dark mushrooms | Panellus stipticus, Panellus pusillus, Armillaria mellea, Omphalotus nidiformis, Jack O'Lantern |
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What You'll Learn
- Bioluminescent mushrooms are found in subtropical Asia, Australia, and Brazil
- The phenomenon of mushrooms glowing in the dark is called foxfire
- There are about 100,000 species of fungi, but only about 80 glow in the dark
- Mushrooms glow due to a chemical reaction between enzymes and chemicals called luciferins
- The jack o'lantern mushroom is bioluminescent and often found in eastern North America
Bioluminescent mushrooms are found in subtropical Asia, Australia, and Brazil
Mushrooms are bizarre fungi that sprout up in the most unforgiving places. They come in various shapes, colours, and quirks, and some can even glow in the dark. This phenomenon is called "foxfire", and it occurs primarily in fungi growing on decaying wood.
Bioluminescent mushrooms are found across various continents, with the highest diversity occurring on woody or leafy substrates in subtropical closed-canopy forests with high plant diversity. While bioluminescent mushrooms have been found in several regions, their presence in subtropical Asia, Australia, and Brazil is particularly notable.
In subtropical Asia, the Armillaria gallica species, commonly known as "honey mushroom", can be found. This species has wide, flat caps that are yellow-brown and often scaly. It displays bioluminescence in the mycelia, the network of thread-like structures considered the "body" of the fungus. Armillaria mellea is another species found in Asia, recognised by its glowing green caps and stems.
In Australia, the Mycena chlorophos species is known for its bioluminescence. This fungus has brownish-grey sticky caps and emits a pale green light. It is typically found in forests on fallen woody debris, such as dead twigs, branches, and logs.
Brazil is home to several bioluminescent mushroom species, including Mycena luxaeterna, Neonothopanus gardneri, and Flor de Coco. M. luxaeterna, also known as the "eternal light mushroom", has thin, hollow, gel-covered stems that glow eerily in the dark. N. gardneri, or the "honey mushroom", forms clusters of relatively large edible basidiomes. Flor de Coco, or the "flower of the coconut", was rediscovered in 2005 after being lost for 165 years. It is found at the base of palm trees and emits a strong green light at night.
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The phenomenon of mushrooms glowing in the dark is called foxfire
Mushrooms are fungi that can take on various shapes, colours, and quirks. One of their most fascinating qualities is bioluminescence, where they emit a glow in the dark. This phenomenon is known as foxfire and occurs primarily in fungi growing on decaying wood. Foxfire is an ethereal glow that appears in the deep, dark woods at night, illuminating the forest with a magical light.
While there are about 100,000 species of fungi, only around 80 are bioluminescent. These glowing mushrooms can be found in subtropical Asia, Australia, and Brazil, as well as in the dense forests of North America and Europe. Some well-known bioluminescent mushrooms include the Jack O'Lantern, Flor de Coco, Armillaria mellea, Panellus stipticus, and Mycena luxaeterna.
The reason for mushrooms' bioluminescence is not yet fully understood by mycologists, but there are several hypotheses. One theory suggests that the light attracts insects that help spread their spores, similar to how flowers rely on pollinators. Another hypothesis posits that the glow may deter animals from consuming the mushrooms. Additionally, it is speculated that the glowing mycelium could attract arthropod predators that feed on unprotected hyphae.
The intensity and timing of the mushrooms' glow are influenced by factors such as temperature and the availability of water, oxygen, and metabolic conditions. Most mushrooms intensify their glow at night, when it is dark and most effective, as glowing requires energy. Furthermore, mushrooms tend to operate on a 22-hour cycle that corrects to a 24-hour cycle based on temperature, similar to the human circadian rhythm.
Foxfire has been a source of wonder and curiosity for centuries, with tales of early settlers and pioneers using the glow of fungi to navigate through the woods at night. Today, witnessing foxfire in person is a rare privilege, as the light is typically dim and best observed under specific conditions, such as in thick woods on moonless nights or in dark places like caves or mines.
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There are about 100,000 species of fungi, but only about 80 glow in the dark
Mushrooms are fungi that grow in a variety of shapes, colours, and habitats. They can be poisonous or edible, and some even glow in the dark. This phenomenon is called foxfire and occurs mostly in fungi growing on decaying wood.
There are about 100,000 species of fungi, but only about 80 are bioluminescent or glow in the dark. These glowing fungi emit light through a chemical reaction involving luciferin, a luciferase enzyme, and molecular oxygen. This chemical reaction, called bioluminescence, is similar to how fireflies produce light. However, fungi use a unique metabolic pathway with some extra enzymes in addition to luciferase.
Some well-known bioluminescent mushrooms include Panellus stipticus, which is found worldwide and is one of the brightest-glowing fungi. It grows on logs and is shaped like a small leathery oyster mushroom. Another is Armillaria mellea, which is edible and found in subtropical Asia, Australia, and Brazil. It has a sweet and nutty taste with a texture ranging from chewy to crunchy.
The purpose of the glow in mushrooms is thought to be attracting insects that help spread their spores. In one study, illuminated models of mushrooms attracted more beetles, bugs, flies, wasps, and ants than dark models. However, another study found that the light from ghost fungus did not attract any potential spore-dispersing insects. Thus, the glow may be a useless byproduct of metabolism for some fungi.
The glowing parts of the fungi can come from the mycelia, the mushrooms, or both. For example, Panellus pusillus, a member of the Panellus genus, glows in its fruit bodies and mycelia, while Armillaria mellea only glows in the mycelia, which is usually invisible. Scientists hypothesize that the function of glowing mycelia may be to discourage animals from eating the fungus.
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Mushrooms glow due to a chemical reaction between enzymes and chemicals called luciferins
Mushrooms are fungi that can sprout in various environments, from the lush forests of Brazil to crawl spaces in houses. They come in different shapes and colours, and some even "bleed" poison. One of their most fascinating qualities is bioluminescence, with over 70 species of mushrooms exhibiting this trait. Bioluminescence is the light generated from chemical reactions in the bodies of living things, including fireflies, jellyfish, some bacteria, and fungi.
The bioluminescence in mushrooms is due to a chemical reaction between enzymes and chemicals called luciferins. This chemical reaction involves an enzyme called luciferase interacting with light-emitting compounds called luciferins, along with oxygen and water. The resulting product is an excited state of a molecule called oxyluciferin, which emits light of a specific colour as it relaxes to its ground state. This process is similar to the mechanism that makes fireflies glow.
The Neonothopanus gardneri, a fluorescent mushroom found in the Brazilian Coconut Forest, is an example of a mushroom that owes its glow to this chemical reaction. Researchers collected samples of this fungus, rich in the reaction-speeding enzyme, and used it to produce oxyluciferin in the lab. They also discovered that by tweaking the structure of luciferin, they could create different versions of oxyluciferin that emitted different colours of light.
The purpose of the glow in mushrooms is thought to be attracting insects that will help spread their spores, similar to how flowers rely on pollinators. This hypothesis is supported by observations of insects, such as beetles, flies, wasps, and ants, being drawn to the light of glowing mushrooms. Additionally, the intensity of the glow in mushrooms tends to be stronger at night, when it is most effective in attracting insects.
While the chemical basis of mushroom bioluminescence has been discovered, the full mechanism behind it remains a subject of ongoing research. Scientists continue to explore the reasons why fungi produce light and the potential advantages it confers to different species.
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The jack o'lantern mushroom is bioluminescent and often found in eastern North America
Mushrooms are fungi that can take on any shape and colour, and one of their most fascinating qualities is bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is light generated from chemical reactions in the bodies of living things, including fireflies, jellyfish, some bacteria, and fungi. Of the 100,000 known species of fungi, only about 80 are bioluminescent.
The Jack O'Lantern mushroom (Omphalotus illudens) is one such bioluminescent fungus, commonly found in eastern North America. It is identified by its bright orange appearance and gills that glow in the dark. This mushroom is often found in clumps on decaying stumps, buried roots, or at the base of hardwood trees, particularly oaks. Its gills emit a green glow, though this is only visible once your eyes have adjusted to the dark.
The Jack O'Lantern mushroom is poisonous, causing cramps, vomiting, and diarrhoea if consumed raw or cooked. It is sometimes mistaken for the edible chanterelle mushroom, especially when growing terrestrially rather than from wood. However, chanterelles rarely grow in dense clusters and have false gills, while the Jack O'Lantern typically grows in clusters and has true, sharp, bendable, paper-like gills.
The purpose of bioluminescence in the Jack O'Lantern mushroom is not yet fully understood by scientists. While bioluminescence in other mushrooms is thought to attract insects to help spread spores, this does not appear to be the case for the Jack O'Lantern variety. Other hypotheses include attracting arthropod predators to protect the mushrooms or attracting arthropods to assist in spore dispersal.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are about 80 species of bioluminescent mushrooms out of 100,000 species of fungi.
Mushrooms glow due to a natural chemical reaction between enzymes and chemicals called luciferins, which creates photons.
Mycologists have not yet determined the exact reason why mushrooms glow. However, one theory suggests that the light attracts arthropods, which will either eat the mushrooms or lay eggs on them, helping the mushrooms spread their spores.
