Bartheletia paradoxa
The fungus Bartheletia paradoxa is a 'living fossil' (an organism that has remained essentially unchanged from earlier times and whose close relatives are usually extinct). It is found on Ginkgo leaf litter. It has unique characteristics among the basidiomycetes. In autumn the asexual stage (anamorph) forms on newly fallen leaves. Later, the sexual state (teleomorph) is formed as minute black hemispherical leaf spots, each surrounded by a grey halo. The spots consist of thick-walled, dark brown teliospores.
host 
Photograph on the host tree; note substrate and host in your comments. Ensure that your photos show the black telia; we recommend that these are examined on a specimen.
Found on Ginkgo leaf litter.
AJ Cann
Knighton Park Leicester
30 December 2017
Clumps of teliospores on the surface of the leaf
AJ Cann
Knighton Park Leicester
30 December 2017
Ginkgo biloba leaf with telia-like structures
AJ Cann
Knighton Park Leicester
30 December 2017
Clumps of telia on the surface of the leaf
Melinda Bell
Market Bosworth CountryPark
17 January 2022
Peter Smith
Leicester, Belgrave Gardens
12 December 2022
Peter Smith
Abbey Park
22 January 2018
Upper surface
Peter Smith
Abbey Park
22 January 2018
Detail of upper surface
Melinda Bell
Ashby,Leicester Road garden
19 January 2021
raised black telia
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Species profile
- Species group:
- fungus
- Kingdom:
- Fungi
- Order:
- Family:
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 6
- First record:
- 30/12/2017 (Cann, Alan)
- Last record:
- 12/12/2022 (Smith, Peter)
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