Glow In the Dark Mushrooms Rediscovered

Eerie glow-in-the-dark mushrooms have been found again in the Amazon rainforest after not being seen for 170 years.

Although glowing fungi are nothing new to science — there are 71 identified species — this particular species (named Neonothopanus gardneri, after the initial discoverer) is notable for its size and the extraordinary strength of its light.

"It glows more brightly than almost all other luminescent mushrooms," said Dennis Desjardin, a fungi expert at San Francisco State University. "If you were in a dark room and you put one on a newspaper, you'd be able to read the words

I love photographing and looking for mushrooms on my hikes.  Read how these bioluminescent mushrooms were discovered, lost and refound here.

Read more about bioluminescence.
10 Fascinating Bioluminescent Organisms 

New Tropical Mistletoe Discovered

The UN's 2010 International Year of Biodiversity has been bountiful. Along with a beautiful new Andean iris, a poisonous aubergine, new orchids, blue palm trees, a plant larger than Big Ben, and a bromeliad that is possibly pollinated by bats, Kew Botanical Gardens announced that a new tropical mistletoe has been discovered in Mozambique.

Fortunately, the parasitic plant is only found in Africa and not here in Florida. Today on "In Your Backyard" we talk to Dan Babrowski, Orlando's Davey Tree Experts Company sales manager about the mistletoe we see in Central Florida trees and what to do about it.

Read all about the new plants found here.

More expedition information and photos at the BBC.

Photo by Teresa Watkins

Mistletoe in Florida:

How to remove mistletoe. Step by step instructions on how to remove mistletoe.

Mistletoe - University of Florida/IFAS

Davey Tree Experts Company

International Society of Arborists