Cobalt Crust and Bartheletia paradoxa

High up on Tom's 'fungal bucket list' is the Cobalt Crust (Terana caerulea) - a spectacular fungus. Its spectacular colour makes it relatively easy to spot, and though uncommon, it has been recorded once in the Clyne Valley, Swansea..... so that's where he went on Sunday. Tom explains.....

After a general fungal foray, I had given up on finding it as I had checked in all my 'usual' spots for fungi. However, when walking out of the park to the car-park at Blackpill I spotted a solitary tree that looked like it had had paint thrown over it. The tree was dead but still in its upright position and it was surrounded by brambles. Interestingly the Cobalt Crust, while predominantly on the tree itself, had spread onto the dead bramble stems - a truly spectacular sight!

Cobalt Crust (Terana caerulea) 

After walking through the Clyne Valley I walked back along the coast and through Singleton Park where I wanted to check for a rare fungus I had only heard of the week previous.
Bartheletia paradoxa is a fairly inconspicuous leaf fungus that was only formally described in 2008.

It is under-recorded due to its specialism- it can only grow on the dead leaf litter of the Ginko tree- a living fossil, physically unchanged from millions of years ago. Its is the only surviving species from a group of trees that were widespread 250 million years ago.
The Bartheletia paradoxa is also a living fossil and has evolved with the tree over geological time.

Due to Ginko being ornamental, most records are in botanical gardens, parks and streets. I found this leaf (among others) in Singleton Botanic Gardens, although it is only early in the year for the fungus and hopefully more should develop.

Bartheletia paradoxa