Posted in North Carolina March 18, 2020 by

Deep In The Forests Of North Carolina, There’s A Magical Fungus That Glows In The Dark

North Carolina’s many forests and preserves make it a seamless effort to be in awe of nature and all that we encounter when exploring the deepest recesses of the Tar Heel State on foot. And while that’s a task that’s best enjoyed during the daylight hours, there’s a hidden secret to discover along those same paths after dark.

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
One of the things we love most about North Carolina is the ability to find a hiking trail worthy of adventure in any part of the state.
Google Local/Mike Hildebrand
On any given day, numerous parks, perserves, state parks, forests, and more are accessible for reconnecting with Mother Nature in a variety of ways. But for those who camp overnight or explore after dark, there's a hidden bonus... a glow-in-the-dark fungus that's found throughout many of North Carolina's forests.
Google Local/jim catalfamo
Once the sun fades and the lights go down, certain kinds of fungus found growing on trees can be seen glowing in the dark.
Wikipedia/lalalfdfa
It's the same fungus we see during the day that takes on a whole new life after dark...
Google Local/Keith Kirkland
Currently, there are at least 75 species of this bioluminiscent fungi growing all around the world and a little more than 20 are found in North America. But what, exactly, makes them glow after dark?
Jeff sawkins / 500px Collection via Getty Images
Simply put, a couple of things happen to make the magic work: luciferin is emitted by the fungus and is then oxidized by another substance (luciferase) to create the glow.
Wikipedia/Noah Siegel (Amanita virosa)
Some scientists believe the glow is a reaction to the breakdown of chemicals in the wood on which the fungi are attached.
Wikipedia/Cas Liber - Cas Liber
Others believe the light is a natural attempt to attract insects and other grazers so they'll spread the fungi spores.

If you’ve ever explored a campground or a trail after dark, have you encountered any glow-in-the-dark fungus? We’d love to know!

Know of another oddball nature-related phenom in North Carolina that we should feature here? Give us a heads up at this link!

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