Glowing Panellus

Panellus stipticus

The Glowing Panellus is a small mushroom that shines brightly in the dark! It grows on dead trees and adds a touch of magic to the woods.

Habitat: Decaying trees in forests

Appearance

The Glowing Panellus is a small, fan-shaped mushroom, pale tan to yellowish-brown on top, with white to cream gills underneath. It often grows in overlapping clusters on dead wood and is visually distinct for its unique, otherworldly glow at night.

KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassAgaricomycetesOrderAgaricalesFamilyMycenaceaeGenusPanellus

Glowing Panellus

Interesting facts

If you accidentally chew it, this mushroom tastes incredibly bitter, so don't try it!

Its eerie green glow is called bioluminescence, just like fireflies in the dark!

Scientists study this mushroom's glow to understand how nature makes cold light.

This fungi's glow lasts for days, making it a natural, long-lasting forest night light!

Special abilities

Glowing Panellus can create its own ghostly green light using a chemical reaction that helps attract nocturnal insects.

Glowing Panellus has special enzymes that help them break down tough dead wood, returning vital nutrients to the forest.

Glowing Panellus has a leathery cap and stem that helps them survive on logs for longer, even in dry periods.

Measurements & details

Height: 0.5-2 cm
Edible: inedible
Size: 0.5-3 cm
Growth Substrate: wood
Season: Fall
Spore Color: White

Ecological connections

Depends on

Red Oak

Quercus rubra

Decomposes dead wood, helping recycle nutrients.

Depends on

Sugar Maple

Acer saccharum

Breaks down fallen branches and logs of this tree.

Eaten by

Leopard Slug

Limax maximus

Slugs sometimes graze on the mushroom's fruiting bodies.

Traits

Spore Producing

Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.

Forest

Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

Glowing

Pertaining to organisms that emit light through bioluminescence or fluorescence.

Also known as

Bioluminescent PanellusPanellus stipticus

Collections

Fungi

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Glowing Panellus?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How tall is Glowing Panellus?

0.5-2 cm

Is Glowing Panellus edible?

inedible

How big is Glowing Panellus?

0.5-3 cm

Where is Glowing Panellus usually found?

Decaying trees in forests

What does Glowing Panellus grow on?

wood

When is Glowing Panellus in season?

Fall