Researchers say these peculiar fungi have evolved to glow to attract insects that can carry their spores around

Mar 23, 2015 12:42 GMT  ·  By

A recent paper in the journal Current Biology describes one of nature's little mysteries: mushrooms that glow an oddly bright green in the dark.

Presently, well over 100,000 species of fungi are known to the scientific community. Of these, just 71 are known to use oxygen and energy in biochemical processes resulting in the production of light.

As explained by wildlife researchers, Neonothopanus gardneri, pictured next to this article, is one of the biggest and absolute brightest glowing mushrooms thus far documented.

This species is a common sight in Brazil, where it likes to set up camp at the base of young palm trees. As a result, locals often refer to it as “flor de coco,” which translates as “coconut flower.”

For decades, it was believed that the light produced by Neonothopanus gardneri and other glowing mushrooms growing across the globe was merely a metabolic byproduct.

However, having noticed that these fungi speed up light production during nighttime, wildlife researchers came up with an entirely new explanation for this phenomenon.

Long story short, they now claim that, all things considered, chances are that Brazil's Neonothopanus gardneri and other such mushrooms rely on light to attract insects that can spread their spores.

“It appears that fungi make light so they are noticed by insects who can help the fungus colonize new habitats,” researcher Cassius Stevani said in a statement, as cited by EurekAlert.

Beetles, flies, wasps and even ants all count themselves among the insects that are attracted by the light produced by glowing fungi. They visit them and, when they leave, take spores with them.

Scientists hope that they will soon zoom in on the genes that make it possible for the mushrooms to glow in the dark. The next will be to study how the circadian clock influences the fungi's behavior.

This is what Neonothopanus gardneri specimens look like during daytime
This is what Neonothopanus gardneri specimens look like during daytime

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Odd mushrooms glow in the dark
This is what Neonothopanus gardneri specimens look like during daytime
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