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Name: Shawn
Status: other
Age: 15
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 6/11/2004
Question:
Hello, I was browsing through various types of unusual plants the other day, but was puzzled to find a picture of a phosphorus moss. Does such a type of moss actually exist? Or was I deicived by some cunning photo editing? If it's any help, I believe that this was supposedly supposed to be on the British Islands.

Replies:
I think you mean "phosphorescence." Yes, there are various organisms including fungi, e.g., in lichens, perhaps the "mosses" you mention, etc. which exhibit phosphorescence.

Possibly helpful:

http://www.out-there.com/cavewrsa.htm

http://www.mushroomthejournal.com/coma/nfusum99.html

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/bot00/bot00076.htm

Anthony Brach, Ph.D


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