Basidiomycota. Corticiaceae Laetisaria lichenicola # Lichenicolous fungus. Photographs on Physcia tenella. Only recognised in Britain and Ireland since 2015 but quite common and widespread on Physcia adscendens and P. tenella on nutrient-rich twigs. Develops immersed in the host thallus, turning it a glossy light to mid pink and appearing slightly frosted when the two-pronged basidia are produced. Subsequently the host tissue degrades into a thin film. Micrographs showing basidiospores below. Similar: Illosporiopsis christiansenii has bright pink blobs of coiled conidia. Marchandiomyces corallinus is also pink but produces small bulbils.

Micrographs showing basidiospores



Laetisaria lichenicola
Parkstone, Kingston Lacey and Hampreston, Dorset. January 2013, December 2015, August 2023