Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Tsukiyotake

The "Tsukiyotake" is a glowing poisonous mushroom that grows on dead broadleaf trees. Since there are edible mushrooms that look similar to this one, there are often news reports of poisoning in Japan due to mistaken eating. I look for and photograph the "Tsukiyotake" in the fall. Japan had a very hot summer this year, and the lingering summer heat in the fall made the mushroom season different from usual. However, I can found many tsukiyotake on a large dead beech tree . A dead tree loses its leaves and can no longer produce nourishment. The remaining little nourishment is given to the mushrooms, which glow at night. It is really the last glimmer of light of tree.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: daisen Town, Tottori Prefecture, Japan
Camera: ILCE-7RM4
Copyright: © Masahiro Hiroike