Mycena kentingensis

Description

🌳 Origin & Discovery

In the lush, tropical forests of Taiwan’s Kenting National Park, Mycena kentingensis was discovered as a newly identified species in 2013. This mesmerizing mushroom brings a mystical glow to the forest floor, illuminating bamboo groves and fallen wood with a cool, green light. With both its cap and mycelium emitting a faint, fluorescent glow, it joins the ranks of 74 known luminous fungi worldwide!

💡 A Natural Nightlight

M. kentingensis doesn’t just shine for show—it glows to attract nocturnal insects, which aid in spore dispersal. Like fireflies, this mushroom produces “cold light” through the reaction of luciferin and luciferase enzymes. This glowing mechanism is unique to bioluminescent organisms and differs entirely from the fluorescence you might find in minerals or artificial lights. So, no worries—it won’t burn like fire! 🔥✨

🌿 Tiny but Striking

The cap, or pileus, measures a delicate 3-8 mm wide, adorned with fine white spines and almost translucent in appearance. Both the pileus and the fine gills (lamellae) emit their soft glow in darkness, transforming bamboo forests into an otherworldly scene after rain or during Taiwan’s typhoon season. With a cap smaller than the related Mycena chlorophos, M. kentingensis is a tiny beacon among the undergrowth, lasting only a few days before vanishing—an ephemeral encounter in the forest.

🌧️ Rare Sighting in Nature

Best viewed after continuous rain, a trek through Kenting’s forest paths from Sheding’s Small Rift Valley to Yongchuan offers a chance to glimpse their glowing green beauty. Spotting one is a rare and lucky experience, often needing guides who know their favored spots. Given the right conditions, though, the reward is pure magic: a luminous green glimmer lighting up the dark, humid landscape.

Photo source: Hua Te Fang