Ghost Lights

 

                                                                 Armillaria Mellea 

Armillaria mellea is one of the bioluminescent fungi.

The light is usually visible in the mycelium and rhizomorphs (not in the mushroom caps).

It emits a greenish glow in darkness.

The glow comes from a luciferin–luciferase reaction similar to fireflies but chemically different.

The fungal enzyme (luciferase) oxidizes fungal luciferin in the presence of oxygen, producing visible light.

This process is continuous and does not require external light exposure (unlike fluorescence).

Armillaria Mellea: Bioluminescence

Armillaria Mellea: Bioluminescence

             Post-mortem luminescence and Armillaria mellea

• After death, when a body lies in a moist, wooded, or soil-rich environment, fungi can colonize the remains.

• Armillaria mellea (honey fungus) is one of the fungi capable of producing post-mortem luminescence due to its bioluminescent mycelium and rhizomorphs.

• Old forensic literature describes cadavers glowing in the dark graves, often attributed to Armillaria mellea or related fungi, leading to folklore about “corpse candles” or “ghost lights.”

• Known as “foxfire” when seen on decomposing wood, and similar colonization can occur on cadaver tissue.

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