Astringent panelus (Panellus stipticus) is a widespread species that grows in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America (including the European part of Russia, the Caucasus, Siberia, Primorsky Krai. In the Leningrad region it is quite rare). It grows in groups on logs, stumps and trunks of deciduous trees, especially on oaks, beeches and birches.
This is one of the bioluminescent species of fungi.
Small, bitter-tasting fruiting bodies of this fungus sometimes completely cover whole stumps. Caps 1-3 cm in diameter, round or kidney-shaped, with a bent edge, smooth, moderately sticky, dirty ocher. The plates are frequent, low, with transverse anastomoses, rusty-yellowish. Stem short, eccentric, widened at the top, pubescent at the bottom, ocher, 0.5-2 cm long and 2-5 mm thick. Bitter pulp. Spores are colorless, smooth, cylindrical, curved, amyloid, 2-4 x 1-2 microns.
It occurs, as a rule, often throughout the growing season (May - October) in large groups on fallen trunks, but more often on stumps of some deciduous trees, mainly on alder, birch, oak, etc. Inedible.
Panellus astringent is a bit like the inedible panellus soft (Panellus mitis), which has white or whitish fruiting bodies, a mild taste, and grows on dead branches of conifers, mainly spruce.
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It has long been known that some living organisms such as fish, insects and even fungi can emit visible light. By the way, the latter are mentioned in the works of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, as well as the writer Pliny the Elder. However, today researchers still have many questions about the nature of the glowing mushrooms.
Like other light-emitting organisms, bioluminescence in fungi is possible through a chemical reaction involving oxygen and luciferin, a light-emitting biological pigment. As a result, the tissues of the fungus in which the reaction takes place glow with a greenish light.
Most mushroom species emit a faint light that can only be seen in very dark conditions, but there are some that glow quite brightly. For example, the mushroom Poromycena manipularis often has such an intense glow that it can be seen from 40 meters away. One can even read under the light of P. manipularis.
Today, there are about 70 species of fungi that are capable of bioluminescence, but it is still not clear why fungi emit light. According to one of the hypotheses of the researchers, the glow is necessary for some mushrooms to attract nocturnal animals, which spread their spores, thereby helping to reproduce. And according to another version, the emitted light of the fungus serves as a warning about its toxicity to animals.
These are the mushrooms that grow in quite themselves in warm European countries, seemingly some are even confused with chanterelles. In fact, it is a mushroom Omphalotus olearius, which features a bioluminescent glow, which is especially beautiful at night:
Of course, such photos are taken with a long exposure and you just can't see it in the forest:-)