Summary:
The minute disc-like to cushion-shaped fruitbodies grow on Hypogymnia lichen. They are whitish or pale grayish brown when young, becoming almost black when old. Consistency is waxy-gelatinous. Tremella papuana is identified by microscopic characters. The description derived from Diederich(1) except where noted.

Microscopic:
spores 6-7.5 x 3.5-6 microns, elliptic, with a large apiculus; basidia 2-spored, 11-15 x 6.5-8.5 microns, when mature tremelloid, ellipsoid, with one longitudinal or slightly oblique septum, the two cells sometimes not equal in size, epibasidia 1.5-2.5 microns wide, at least 30 microns long; hymenium colorless, "containing numerous probasidia, strongly gelatinised", probasidial initials ellipsoid, proliferations occurring through the basal clamp connections; hyphidia and cystidia absent; hyphae of context 1-2 microns wide, clamp connections not observed, fertile hyphae 2.5-3.5 microns wide, thick-walled, with clamp connections; haustorial branches tremelloid, with clamp connections, mother cell 2-3 microns in diam, subspherical; anamorph unknown

Notes:
The species is found in BC (Diederich(2)), and Papua New Guinea (Diederich(1)).

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Antrodia crassa (P. Karst.) Ryvarden Norw. J. Bot.
Physisporus crassus P. Karst.