Foxfire

The Luminous Fungus

I have to start by saying, I love everything about this name. Saying “foxfire fungus” is so satisfying. It’s a bit of a tongue twister and makes me think of the Tarantino film Pulp Fiction. The part when Uma Thurman’s character is talking about her brief stint in show biz, shooting a pilot for a series called Fox Force Five. It has the same ring to it.

I have a personal affinity for foxes. They are a woodland creature that is only seen when they want to be. And I’ve seen enough foxes grinning at me from the bushes to feel incredibly blessed.

Various mushroom species express foxfire. This is less a case study of one mushroom and more a mythological journey into the phenomenon of the luminous fungus. Jack-o-lanterns, ghost fungus, moon night mushroom and various honey mushrooms exhibit the glow. Not all parts of the mushroom glow. In some it is only the cap or gills, in others, only the stem. In still others it is the mycelium that will turn an entire standing dead tree into an Avatar-esq…