GLOWING MUSHROOM PICTURES: Psychedelic New Species Seen

nationalgeographic ^ | October 5, 2009

[JoeProBono]

Glowing nonstop in the Brazilian rain forest, the newfound mushroom Mycena luxaeterna (pictured both in daylight, top, and in the dark) is indeed a source of eternal light, as its Latin name--inspired by verses from Mozart's "Requiem"--implies.

The tiny mushroom is one of 7 new species of glow-in-the-dark fungi found around the world, bringing the total known to 71, according to a study that appeared October 5 in the journal Mycologia.

San Francisco State University's Dennis Desjardin and colleagues scouted for mushrooms during new moons, in rain forests so dark they often couldn't see their hands in front of their faces, he said.

But "when you look down at the ground, it's like looking up at the sky," Desjardin said. "Every little 'star' was a little mushroom--it was just fantastic."

M. luxaeterna has a distinctive sticky gel on its stem that probably keeps it moist during the heat of the day. Unwitting insects get trapped in this natural fly paper, said Desjardin, who discovered the fungi with the University of Sao Paulo's Cassius V. Stevani.

[brityank]

OK. I give up. Where's Elmo ???

[The Comedian]

[a fool in paradise]

Mushroom discovers new breed of scientist.

[a fool in paradise]

Somewhere on the Third Stone from the Sun.

[Daffynition]

I don't mean to be ungrateful ...but where is the bacon on that burger?

[Daffynition]

[MaxMax]

Someone watered them with fluorescent liquid. I could probably do the same thing
with the mushrooms in my garden.

[paulycy]

Is that Mitt Romney???

[paulycy]

[Daffynition]

Could be ..or.....

[JoeProBono]

[paulycy]

[Daffynition]

Now you're talkin'!!!111

Is this one of those BYOB events?

[Daffynition]

HAHAHA!

[LadyPilgrim]

PING! Here you go....

[paulycy]

;0)

[TigersEye]

Now you’re talking; a mushroom, cheese and bacon omelet. I hope that was fried in olive oil, I’m on a health kick. ;^)

[Slings and Arrows]

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[Lady Jag]

[pandoraou812]

Health kick? lol.