Strangely, luminescent mushrooms grow on the bark, making the whole forest glow

During the monsoon season, forests on the Western Ghats, India, can surprise tourists when they glow strangely.

Strange glowing forest in India

Located in the 8 major biodiversity areas in the world, the Western Ghats is home to the richest rain forests on the planet with abundant flora and fauna. Every year, when the monsoon comes from June to October, the whole forest will glow light green like fluorescent lights.

Glowing trees in the forest.(Photo: Sriharsha Ganjam & Ashwini Kumar Bhat - Landscape Wizards.)

The cause of this strange phenomenon is due to a luminescent fungus growing on bark and branch under the forest floor. Photoluminescent fungi exist only in places where moisture is suitable in the perennial forests of tropical and temperate climates.

While luminescent marine life is relatively common, the glowing phenomenon in living organisms on the land is rarer. The two most well-known species are fireflies and worms. Scientists have found nearly 100,000 luminescent fungi, but only a few are large enough for humans to easily see. The fungus that grows in the Western Ghats belongs to the Mycena genus family, including extremely small moss-like mushrooms. The reason they glow is still a mystery.