17 Bioluminescent Mushroom Facts: Know More About Glowing Fungi

Tiny mushrooms are very mysterious fungi that have kept scientists on the lookout.

Mushroom observers have seen that they emit light when there is an absence of light from the surroundings. Luminous mushrooms are a delight to watch, though very few have been lucky to witness them for real.

Mushrooms that glow in the dark are called bioluminescent mushrooms. They are basically bioluminescent fungi. New species have been recently discovered in northeast India and they are known to be found in the western ghats of India.

An amazing fact about these bioluminescent fungi is that there are over 8o such species of mushroom found on Earth that can glow in the dark. Armillaria mellea is the most commonly seen bioluminescent fungus in northeast India as well as South America.

Mycena luxaeterna sometimes called eternal light mushroom can be found in the rain forest. This bioluminescent fungus is found only in Brazil.

Scientists have found out that oxyluciferin is the compound responsible for glow in bioluminescent mushrooms. The bioluminescent fungi use a special typeof molecule called luciferins.When these react with enzymes and oxygen, they emit light.

Panellus stipticus or bitter oyster is the brightest-glowing bioluminescent fungi. It is easily found throughout Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America. These flat mushroom dispersing spores grow on tree branches. They create a mesmerizing and magical effect when the sun goes down. Mushroom observers have been able to find them growing on birch, oak, and beech trees.

The luciferins in bioluminescent mushrooms are the same as fireflies and underwater creatures found in ocean environments. It is the same for all living organisms. This is the reason for the light emitted. For more than 100 years children of Brazil have been playing with a giant firefly that is not an insect.

Even naturalist George Gardner saw it in the street in Brazil. He was astonished to learn that this is not an insect. It is fungi, these large glowing fungi are called Neonothopanus gardneri.

If you want to see bioluminescent mushrooms you first must learn to find them in the daytime. If you can recognize them during the daytime, then you can witness the glow at night.

If you enjoy this article, why not also read about bioluminescence in humans or black hole facts here on Kidadl?

Bioluminescence Meaning With Examples

Bioluminescence is when living species emit visible light in complete darkness. The whole body literally glows in absence of visible light.

Bioluminescence is a completely natural phenomenon, it can not be induced. The living creatures emit light. This happens when chemical energy in them gets converted into light energy. Fireflies on a summer night produce visible light when a chemical reaction occurs in their abdomen.

Bioluminescence is basically a chemoluminescence reaction. The luciferase enzyme catalyzes the pigment luciferin. The body condition matter in each case.

A study in 2015, gave us a reason for the glow of bioluminescent mushrooms. The fungi do this to attract swarms of insects to the light in the night. It is necessary to do so for dispersing spores. This way bioluminescent mushrooms reproduce and colonize the entire area in the forests.

This phenomenon is present in a few animals as well as plants. We do not know its added benefits and harms. So consumption of any such organism is not suggested. They are for the pleasure of your eyes. Scientists all over the world are looking for ways to solve the mystery.

Which mushroom species is bioluminescent?

There are many old and new species of mushrooms that display fungal bioluminescence.

Mushrooms are weird fungi that can pop up anywhere in dark and cold places too. We may not have seen glowing fungi personally, but there are over 70 fungal species that can glow in the dark. Mushrooms glow due to a chemical reaction between luciferin and molecular oxygen.

This is the same trick nature has used in fireflies. Whereas fireflies emit light to attract mates, mushrooms emit light to attract insects to disperse spores. This phenomenon is called foxfire. These species of fungi grow easily in dark and decaying wood in the forest.

Bitter Oyster (Panellus stipticus): The brightest-glowing bioluminescent mushrooms that can be found on Earth. These are flat fungi in a dull shade of yellow during the day. At night they transform into dazzling decorations. Bitter mushrooms belong to the family of Mycenaceae and genus Panellus.

Mycelium and Genus are the other glowing fungi. Panellus stipticus species has a global presence. They can be specifically seen growing in North America. Their gills and mycelium glow. It is prominent mostly at the time of spore maturation.

Little Ping-Pong Bats (Panellus pusillus): At night they look like viridescent string lights that have been wrapped all around tree branches deep in the forest. In the daytime, you may not find these mushrooms interesting. They are tiny white palm fans found in large clusters.

They create a magnificent and fantasy view at night in the area. It can be found on every continent on earth except Africa and Antarctica. But they have not been captured while glowing.

Honey Mushroom (Armillaria mellea): These orange mushrooms are widespread species of bioluminescent fungi. They are found in North America to Asia. Unlike other species like the genus of mushrooms that glow in the top honey mushrooms, glow only in the mycelia.

This part of the mushroom isn't usually visible. So they can easily be missed if you do not expect them to be around. Scientists hypothesize the glow here may not be to attract but to discourage animals or insects from eating it.

The bulbous honey fungus is among known glowing mushrooms as it is a part of a tourist attraction in Michigan. A colony of this species can cover over 37 acres at a stretch and weigh 880,000 lb (399,161 kg). This certain colony was discovered in the 1990s, around 2,500 years old.

Green Pepe (Mycena Chlorophos): It belongs to the genus Mycena family of mushrooms. It has a pale-green glow. The whole fruiting body glows and not just its mycelia.

It's brightest when life is just one day old with a temperature around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Native to Indonesia, Japan, Australia, Sri Lanka, and Brazil. Once its cap opens up, the bioluminescence starts to fade quickly.

Lilac Bonnet (Mycena Pura): This is pretty when it isn't glowing as well. Quintessentially bell-shaped caps have a soft purple color. Most commonly spotted in Great Britain and Ireland.

Eternal Light Mushroom (Mycena luxaeterna): Thin, hollow, gel-covered stems of this fungus glows green constantly. It is called eternal light mushroom as it glows even in daylight. The cap doesn't glow. The eternal light mushroom is found only in the rain forests of Sāo Paulo, Brazil.

Bleeding Fairy Helmet (Mycena Haematopus): The prettiest bioluminescent mushrooms when damaged red latex oozes out. Its bioluminescence is weak and can be rarely seen by humans. The species can be spotted in forests in Europe and North America.

Jack-O'Lantern Mushroom (Omphalotus olearius): This species of fungi glows in its mycelia and the gills, underside of its cap. The brightness of emitted light reduces and fades over time for these glowing mushrooms when plucked.

How do you know if a mushroom is bioluminescent?

When you know for sure that this is a species of fungus belonging to the genus family, it will glow. You can say you know a mold that can glow in the dark.

Bioluminescent fungi sound like a psychedelic riddle, but it’s reality. These glow-in-the-dark fungi emitting light in the night are spotted in northeast India, Brazil and Vietnam. New species are being found lately in forests of northeast India. They may not be edible though. The lights are very mesmerizing when seen in a pitch-black environment.

The compound, oxyluciferin, was a mystery until 2015. A team of scientists had found out mushrooms use luciferins. This is the main light-emitting compound, also found in other glowing animals as well. They all use it to attract insects. The insects help disperse spores to hidden places in the forest. This is how the mushroom species survive.

There is an endless scope of research in the field of this bioluminescence. We may have found out the compound but there is no evidence of where it comes from or if this property can be induced or not.

Are the mushrooms with lights edible or not? Are the plants with this property safe for consumption and will we humans start to glow if we eat these plants?

So, scientists have many more things to discover before we know even a little about this mystery of nature. Just enjoy the view at night and see the magic all around you.

What animals use bioluminescence?

Animals use bioluminescence to attract either their mate or prey. They do this so that they are not the ones running around and the prey comes straight to them. Plants use it as a defense mechanism.

You can see fireflies shine bright on a summer night. They produce visible light when a chemical reaction occurs in their abdomen. Bioluminescence is basically a chemoluminescence reaction. The luciferase enzyme catalyzes the pigment luciferin. The body condition matter in each case.

In bacteria, the gene for bioluminescence is lux operon. Though, bioluminescence is commonly seen in deep-sea dwellers. Jellyfish, starfish, squid, sharks, crustaceans are marine organisms exhibiting bioluminescence. This actually happens as there is no light at all at the bottom of the ocean. So the plants and animals produce their own light.

Squids emit bioluminescent fluid as a defense mechanism and hide from predators. Crustaceans and worms make use of bioluminescence to allure partners. Bioluminescent organisms even with weak emissions are found near the seafloor. But at times they can come near the coast.

Sometimes, dinoflagellates planktons bloom on the surface of oceans. Optimum conditions make the ocean sparkle due to its presence at night. In the day they seem to be reddish-brown in color.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly factsfor everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 17 bioluminescent mushroom facts then why not take a look at 1939 facts: learn about what happened the year World War II started, or learn all about the hardy plants that live in the Atlantic Ocean.