How do fungi produce the glowing effect called foxfire?

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time-lapse photo of fireflies — Bioluminescence Time-lapse image of fireflies in the Catskill Mountains, New York. Firefly light is a cold light, with approximately 100 percent of the energy given off as light and only a minute amount as heat. Only light in the visible spectrum is emitted.

Foxfire is the term used to describe the eerie, phosphorescent glow emitted by the mycelium of certain fungi as they grow on decaying wood.12

This light production is a form of bioluminescence, a process that occurs across many life forms through the oxidation of a molecule called luciferin. In this chemical reaction, the oxidation of luciferin is catalyzed by an enzyme known as luciferase.1

While many bioluminescent organisms use light for specific behaviors like signaling or camouflage, fungi glow around the clock. Scientists believe this constant illumination may serve several purposes, such as repelling predators or attracting insects that assist in the dispersal of fungal spores. In some cases, the glow may also be an accidental byproduct of the fungus's metabolism as it breaks down wood.1