Basidiomycota       Order: Tremellales Zyzygomyces physciacearum (Syzygospora physciacearum) Lichenicolous fungus. Photos: On Physcia tenella. Co. Cork, SW Ireland. A basidiomycete forming gelatinous or waxy pale pink, pale brown, greyish or nearly black galls (often with a constricted base) on the host. The basidia are (2-)3-4 spored and the basidiospores 7.5-11 x 3.5-6.5 µm. First described in 1996. Widespread on thallii and apothecia of Physcia species, particularly Physcia tenella and P. adscendens. Similar: Zyzygomyces aipoliae is found on Physcia aipolia and Zyzygomyces physconiae on Physconia. Tremella christiansenii also causes brown galls on Physcia's but has basidia with individual cells elongating separately before epibasidium forms

Zyzygomyces physciacearum (Syzygospora physciacearum) on Physcia tenella. February 2011