Panellus stipticus (Glow Oyster) | Bioluminescent Agar Slant

Panellus stipticus, commonly known as the Bitter Oyster or Glow Oyster, is a breathtaking wood-decay fungus famous for its natural bioluminescence. Unlike typical gourmet or medicinal species, this unique strain is cultivated purely for its visual spectacle. Both the actively growing mycelium and the mature fruiting bodies emit a continuous, eerie green glow in total darkness—a naturally occurring phenomenon caused by the oxidation of the compound luciferin.

This premium agar culture is provided as a test tube slant, ensuring the long-term preservation of these elite, glowing genetics. It provides a perfect, sterile starting point to expand the culture into grain spawn, sawdust blocks, or even outdoor hardwood logs.

Strain Specifications

• Genetics: Panellus stipticus (North American Bioluminescent Isolate).

• Format: Live glowing mycelium cultivated on a sterile nutrient agar slant inside a durable test tube.

• Substrate Preference: A strict wood-lover. Thrives on hardwood sawdust blocks, wooden dowels, or natural hardwood logs (oak, beech, and birch are highly recommended).

• Visual Characteristics: Produces small, kidney-shaped, tan-to-ochre caps that cluster tightly on wood. In the dark, the gills, stems, and underlying mycelium emit a distinct green light.

Why Cultivators Choose the Glow Oyster

• Unmatched Novelty: The ultimate showpiece for any mycology enthusiast. Perfect for creating living, glowing terrariums or unique indoor displays.

• Educational Value: An incredible, hands-on subject for biology students and teachers to study natural luminescence and fungal life cycles.

• Master Culture Format: The test tube slant provides superior longevity and protection against contamination compared to standard petri dishes, allowing you to build a reliable genetic library.

What You Receive

• 1 x Test Tube Agar Slant: Containing live, pure Panellus stipticus master culture. (Pro tip: Take the tube into a pitch-black room and let your eyes adjust for 5-10 minutes to see the mycelium itself glowing!)

• Parafilm Sealed: Ensuring moisture retention and a strictly sterile barrier during transit.

Disclaimer: Panellus stipticus is highly astringent, bitter, and tough. It is strictly non-edible and is cultivated solely for ornamental, educational, and novelty purposes.