Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Lo and Behold It Glowed

Some campers at Perrot State Park woke up in the middle of the night to find their campsite glowing. What would be your first response, radiation fallout, toxic waste, or a visit from the other side or other worlds.

You don't have to go far to see some of natures most beautiful events, this phenomenon was due to a luciferous fungi. It's so much fun to say.

There is said to be a white rot fungi found in decaying wood. When conditions are just right the luciferin causes light to be emitted.

A dark nights trip to the campsite and a moment to let your eyes adjust to the darkest and lo and behold it glowed. I tried to take a photo, silly me, the flash goes off and it's just ground scattered with wood chips. But actually it looked like the milky way covering the ground. Thousands of tiny speckles scattered around, their accumulation lighting up the earth.

I've seen the glow worms of New Zealand, the glowing lights of the Aurora Borealis, our summer fireflies and now I can say I've seen glowing fungus among us. Just had to say it that way. Still on my list is the bioluminescence of oceanic plankton that activates when you go swimming or kayaking. Love to know if you've seen some yourself and where?

1 comment:

  1. Some day I will have to add the fungus to my glow experiences.

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