30 Bizarre and Beautiful Mushrooms
Bioluminescent Fungus (Mycena chlorophos)
Two bioluminescent mushrooms glowing green in the dark
ICHIRO / Getty Images
This mushroom's party trick is that it can glow in the dark. It emits its brightest green light when the surrounding temperature is precisely 81 degrees, and for about a day after the cap forms and opens. After that, the glow dulls until it is (sadly) undetectable by the naked eye. Naturally, the aptly named bioluminescent fungus prefers tropical and subtropical climates, such as in Asia and the Pacific, where it can glow candidly. The ecological significance of fungal bioluminescence remains a popular topic of study today.1
Two bioluminescent mushrooms glowing green in the dark
ICHIRO / Getty Images
This mushroom's party trick is that it can glow in the dark. It emits its brightest green light when the surrounding temperature is precisely 81 degrees, and for about a day after the cap forms and opens. After that, the glow dulls until it is (sadly) undetectable by the naked eye. Naturally, the aptly named bioluminescent fungus prefers tropical and subtropical climates, such as in Asia and the Pacific, where it can glow candidly. The ecological significance of fungal bioluminescence remains a popular topic of study today.1
Advertisements
18 December 2022
Advertisements
