Foxfire

Foxfire, also called fairy fire and chimpanzee fire,[1] is the bioluminescence created by some species of fungi present in decaying wood. The bluish-green glow is attributed to a luciferase, an oxidative enzyme, which emits light as it reacts with a luciferin. The phenomenon has been known since ancient times, with its source determined in 1823.

This article is about the glow of certain forest fungi. For other uses, see Foxfire (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Firefox.
Panellus stipticus, Mt. Vernon, Wisconsin (long exposure)
Omphalotus olearius
Omphalotus nidiformis, glowing in the dark
Artificial fill light contrasts against the natural glow.

Description

Foxfire is the bioluminescence created by some species of fungi present in decaying wood. It occurs in a number of species, including Panellus stipticus, Omphalotus olearius and Omphalotus nidiformis. The bluish-green glow is attributed to luciferin, which emits light after oxidation catalyzed by the enzyme luciferase. Some believe that the light attracts insects to spread spores, or acts as a warning to hungry animals, like the bright colors exhibited by some poisonous or unpalatable animal species.[2] Although generally very dim, in some cases foxfire is bright enough to read by.[3]

History

The oldest recorded documentation of foxfire is from 382 B.C., by Aristotle,[4] whose notes refer to a light that, unlike fire, was cold to the touch. The Roman thinker Pliny the Elder also mentioned glowing wood in olive groves.[5]

Foxfire was used to illuminate the needles on the barometer and the compass of Turtle, an early submarine.[6] This is commonly thought to have been suggested by Benjamin Franklin; a reading of the correspondence from Benjamin Gale, however, shows that Benjamin Franklin was only consulted for alternative forms of lighting when the cold temperatures rendered the foxfire inactive.

After many more literary references to foxfire by early scientists and naturalists, its cause was discovered in 1823. The glow emitted from wooden support beams in mines was examined, and it was found that the luminescence came from fungal growth.[7]

The "fox" in foxfire may derive from the Old French word faux, meaning "false", rather than from the name of the animal.[8] The association of foxes with such fires is widespread, however, and occurs also in Japanese folklore.

See also

References
  1. "Congo". Africa. January 16, 2013. BBC One.
  2. "Foxfire:Bioluminescent Fungi". inamidst.com. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  3. "Bioluminescent Fungi". Mykoweb. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  4. Lee, J (2008). "Bioluminescence: the First 3000 Years (Review)". Journal of Siberian Federal University. Biology. 1 (3): 194–205. doi:10.17516/1997-1389-0264.
  5. "Foxfire: Bioluminescence in the Forest". Warnell School of Forest Resources. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  6. "The Submarine Turtle: Naval Documents of the Revolutionary War". Navy Department Library. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2012.
  7. "Bioluminescent foxfire, Bioluminescence facts, Bioluminescent fungi". Journey Idea. Archived from the original on September 24, 2013. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  8. Smythe Palmer, Abram, The Folk and Their Word-lore: An Essay on Popular Etymologies (1904)
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