Candle snuff
The fungi seen here are individual fruiting bodies belonging to a communal fruit body called a stroma.
The candle snuff fungus is bioluminescent meaning that it can glow in the dark! This could be either a byproduct of the fungus' metabolism or an adaptation to attract insects at night to help disperse spores which stick to the insect's bodies. However, the glow emitted is very weak and therefore difficult to discern with the naked eye unless conditions are very dark. It can also be seen by using long exposure photographic techniques!
Candle snuff
The fungi seen here are individual fruiting bodies belonging to a communal fruit body called a stroma.
The candle snuff fungus is bioluminescent meaning that it can glow in the dark! This could be either a byproduct of the fungus' metabolism or an adaptation to attract insects at night to help disperse spores which stick to the insect's bodies. However, the glow emitted is very weak and therefore difficult to discern with the naked eye unless conditions are very dark. It can also be seen by using long exposure photographic techniques!