3-332.17.__: Schistostega pennataEnglish: Goblin gold; Luminous moss; Luminescent moss.
IntroductionThis is a strange moss, that start glowing in the darkness of caves.
Botany: glowing in dark places, greenish-gold, due to the clear, spherical cells in the protonema that can collect even the faintest light like lenses, and the chloroplasts nearby in turn give off the greenish glow from the reflected light; easily outcompeted by other mosses and plant species in open lighter areas, but its ability to reflect light allows it to grow in shady places that other plants cannot survive; prefers damp mineral soils with a source of dim light, such as reflection from a pool, overturned tree roots, and entrances to animal burrows.
Family Schistostegaceae.
Region: China, Japan, Siberia, Europe, and North America.