Glowing blue Mycena lazulina mushrooms look like tiny cartoon flowers
These fantastic photos of Mycena lazulina, shared by Christine Jones (@mycohuman), show the wonders of these tiny fungi up close. This small but striking species of bioluminescent mushroom stands out for its unusual blue coloration. This mushroom is typically found in tropical forests and grows on decaying plants where the humidity and darkness create ideal conditions for its growth.
Like other bioluminescent fungi, Mycena lazulina produces light through a chemical reaction involving luciferin, luciferase, and oxygen. Their soft glow is most visible in complete darkness. It is not considered edible and is primarily of interest to scientists, photographers, and mushroom enthusiasts.
The first thing that came to mind when I saw photos of this mushroom was that it looks like tiny cartoon flowers. This, combined with the fact that they glow in the dark, makes them my new favorite mushtoom. I want to be a tiny bug, lying in a patch of them.
See also: Mushrooms better at playing keyboard than famed cat
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