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Cobalt Crust Fungus (Terana caerulea) I have been secretly wishing to find this beautiful crust fungus again for a couple of years now. I first found it near this same location when were scoping out our (now acquired) land in Gordon County, GA, US. The shots I got back then were blurry and terrible, so hopefully I did this one a little bit better justice. &lt;3 It was growing on the underside of a small to medium-sized (fallen) hardwood branch in a dense mixed forest valley. This location is quite moist as there are some springs that like to bubble up in the valley. January 7, 2020.<br />
<br />
The blue pigment responsible for the vibrant hue is thelephoric acid. According to wikipedia: &quot;Thelephoric acid has been shown to inhibit prolyl endopeptidase, an enzyme that has a role in processing proteins (specifically, amyloid precursor protein) in Alzheimer&#039;s disease.&quot;<br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/88601/cobalt_crust_fungus_terana_caerulea.html" title="Cobalt Crust Fungus (Terana caerulea)"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3231/88601_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=OMPdLcDfoSm%2F3DYSsv9E9DH6Np0%3D" width="200" height="134" alt="Cobalt Crust Fungus (Terana caerulea) I have been secretly wishing to find this beautiful crust fungus again for a couple of years now. I first found it near this same location when were scoping out our (now acquired) land in Gordon County, GA, US. The shots I got back then were blurry and terrible, so hopefully I did this one a little bit better justice. &lt;3 It was growing on the underside of a small to medium-sized (fallen) hardwood branch in a dense mixed forest valley. This location is quite moist as there are some springs that like to bubble up in the valley. January 7, 2020. <br />
<br />
The blue pigment responsible for the vibrant hue is thelephoric acid. According to wikipedia: &quot;Thelephoric acid has been shown to inhibit prolyl endopeptidase, an enzyme that has a role in processing proteins (specifically, amyloid precursor protein) in Alzheimer&#039;s disease.&quot;<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/88600/cobalt_crust_fungus_terana_caerulea.html<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/88599/cobalt_crust_fungus_terana_caerulea.html Geotagged,Terana caerulea,United States,Winter" /></a></figure><br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/88600/cobalt_crust_fungus_terana_caerulea.html" title="Cobalt Crust Fungus (Terana caerulea)"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3231/88600_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=Xk0n8omLf6VYkh9vcFvst1vbJHY%3D" width="200" height="134" alt="Cobalt Crust Fungus (Terana caerulea) I have been secretly wishing to find this beautiful crust fungus again for a couple of years now. I first found it near this same location when were scoping out our (now acquired) land in Gordon County, GA, US. The shots I got back then were blurry and terrible, so hopefully I did this one a little bit better justice. &lt;3 It was growing on the underside of a small to medium-sized (fallen) hardwood branch in a dense mixed forest valley. This location is quite moist as there are some springs that like to bubble up in the valley. January 7, 2020. <br />
<br />
The blue pigment responsible for the vibrant hue is thelephoric acid. According to wikipedia: &quot;Thelephoric acid has been shown to inhibit prolyl endopeptidase, an enzyme that has a role in processing proteins (specifically, amyloid precursor protein) in Alzheimer&#039;s disease.&quot;<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/88601/cobalt_crust_fungus_terana_caerulea.html<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/88599/cobalt_crust_fungus_terana_caerulea.html Geotagged,Terana caerulea,United States,Winter" /></a></figure> Geotagged,Terana caerulea,United States,Winter Click/tap to enlarge PromotedSpecies introCountry intro

Cobalt Crust Fungus (Terana caerulea)

I have been secretly wishing to find this beautiful crust fungus again for a couple of years now. I first found it near this same location when were scoping out our (now acquired) land in Gordon County, GA, US. The shots I got back then were blurry and terrible, so hopefully I did this one a little bit better justice. <3 It was growing on the underside of a small to medium-sized (fallen) hardwood branch in a dense mixed forest valley. This location is quite moist as there are some springs that like to bubble up in the valley. January 7, 2020.

The blue pigment responsible for the vibrant hue is thelephoric acid. According to wikipedia: "Thelephoric acid has been shown to inhibit prolyl endopeptidase, an enzyme that has a role in processing proteins (specifically, amyloid precursor protein) in Alzheimer's disease."

Cobalt Crust Fungus (Terana caerulea) I have been secretly wishing to find this beautiful crust fungus again for a couple of years now. I first found it near this same location when were scoping out our (now acquired) land in Gordon County, GA, US. The shots I got back then were blurry and terrible, so hopefully I did this one a little bit better justice. <3 It was growing on the underside of a small to medium-sized (fallen) hardwood branch in a dense mixed forest valley. This location is quite moist as there are some springs that like to bubble up in the valley. January 7, 2020. <br />
<br />
The blue pigment responsible for the vibrant hue is thelephoric acid. According to wikipedia: "Thelephoric acid has been shown to inhibit prolyl endopeptidase, an enzyme that has a role in processing proteins (specifically, amyloid precursor protein) in Alzheimer's disease."<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/88600/cobalt_crust_fungus_terana_caerulea.html<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/88599/cobalt_crust_fungus_terana_caerulea.html Geotagged,Terana caerulea,United States,Winter

Cobalt Crust Fungus (Terana caerulea) I have been secretly wishing to find this beautiful crust fungus again for a couple of years now. I first found it near this same location when were scoping out our (now acquired) land in Gordon County, GA, US. The shots I got back then were blurry and terrible, so hopefully I did this one a little bit better justice. <3 It was growing on the underside of a small to medium-sized (fallen) hardwood branch in a dense mixed forest valley. This location is quite moist as there are some springs that like to bubble up in the valley. January 7, 2020. <br />
<br />
The blue pigment responsible for the vibrant hue is thelephoric acid. According to wikipedia: "Thelephoric acid has been shown to inhibit prolyl endopeptidase, an enzyme that has a role in processing proteins (specifically, amyloid precursor protein) in Alzheimer's disease."<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/88601/cobalt_crust_fungus_terana_caerulea.html<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/88599/cobalt_crust_fungus_terana_caerulea.html Geotagged,Terana caerulea,United States,Winter

    comments (5)

  1. whoa...I don't think I've ever seen a blue like this in the wild, not in fungi, not in anything! Posted 5 years ago
    1. It is really stunning in person! I regret not getting better photos the first time I saw it. The entire log was covered in a coat of blue. I wonder if I should post the blurry old shots? Posted 5 years ago
      1. Yes please! Posted 5 years ago
        1. Just added more information on what is responsible for the vibrant blue color. Also, my first sighting:
          Cobalt Crust Fungus (Terana caerulea) A blurry photo of my first encounter with Terana caerulea. July 2017.<br />
<br />
Vibrant, velvet blue saprobic fungus on a fallen tree.<br />
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Habitat:<br />
<br />
A fallen tree in moist, dense mixed hardwood forest.<br />
<br />
The blue pigment responsible for the vibrant hue is thelephoric acid. According to wikipedia: "Thelephoric acid has been shown to inhibit prolyl endopeptidase, an enzyme that has a role in processing proteins (specifically, amyloid precursor protein) in Alzheimer's disease." Cobalt Crust Fungus,Geotagged,Terana caerulea,United States
          Posted 5 years ago
  2. Wonderful!!! Posted 5 years ago

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"Terana caerulea" is a saprobic crust fungus in the family Phanerochaetaceae. Usually found in warm, damp hardwood forests on the undersides of fallen logs and branches of deciduous trees, this unique fungus has been described as "blue velvet on a stick".

Similar species: Polyporales
Species identified by Flown Kimmerling
View Flown Kimmerling's profile

By Flown Kimmerling

All rights reserved
Uploaded Jan 7, 2020. Captured Jan 7, 2020 12:00 in 234 Oakman Rd NE, Ranger, GA 30734, USA.
  • Canon EOS 6D Mark II
  • f/20.0
  • 1/32s
  • ISO100
  • 100mm