tautautau Posted October 8, 2016 Report Share Posted October 8, 2016 I found this around the boston area, and I think this is some kind of Ganoderma, but I'm not sure what species it could be. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! Also, there is a white dust on the underside. Does anyone think it could be mold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradley Posted October 9, 2016 Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 Do you know what type of tree it grew on? It doesn't look especially  fresh. The white stuff may not be mold but it still looks to be too old to use for medicine.  Pic is ganoderma tsugae. Grows on hemlock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tautautau Posted October 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 Thanks Bradley! It grew on some kind of deciduous tree, but I could tell what type of tree it was. Oh that is too bad that it's not good to be used a medicine anymore, as this is the first Reishi I've found, and I was hoping to be able to make a tea out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted October 9, 2016 Report Share Posted October 9, 2016 Interresting that your Reishi came from wood of a deciduous tree, tautautau. Looks like a G. tsugae to me. But I could be wrong about this. The short-stalked varnished Ganodermas can look a lot alike. I think the white coating on the underside is actually the natural color/finish for the fertile surface of this polypore. The brown on the underside is probably spore deposit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tautautau Posted October 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 I'll be back in those woods, so I'll double check to look up what type of tree it is! Thanks Dave, your comments are always so helpful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradley Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 I have seen reishis that color growing on hardwoods before. Can't remember the name g. Kirtisi? I know that's spelled very wrong! They're usually pastel colors. When I collect reishi for medicine I've always been told the best stage to harvest is just before the first spores are released. This is judged by the color of the cap. When the growing (white) edge disappears they're ready!  I have collected them just after the spores appear and felt like the medicinal benefits were the same.  I saw lots of reishi today that look like yours. It may still have some medicinal value to it but it's definitely past prime. Many were growing green mold. Medicine can only be as powerful as the quality of the ingredients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Bradley, I think you mean G. curtisii...? This is indeed a hardwood colonizer. It usually shows a fair amount of yellow on the cap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradley Posted October 10, 2016 Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Yeah curtisii! I've always been terrible with scientific names. Ganodermas seem to be kind of tricky. I have found red reishi on deciduous trees before. They always look a little different than the ones from a hemlock but I can't quite put into words what the physical differences are. Perhaps not quite as elegant looking.  With color forms and host trees overlapping so much it seems very difficult to truly know what species a particular reishi may be.  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tautautau Posted October 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2016 Thanks for the tips Bradley!! Dave, I went back and it was actually a hemlock, you were right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ginny Posted December 17, 2022 Report Share Posted December 17, 2022 (edited) Found this is this the same I found it on a peacan stump ? Edited December 17, 2022 by Ginny Adding photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted December 17, 2022 Report Share Posted December 17, 2022 I think yours is also a Ganoderma, Ginny. If so, then it's one of the "Varnished Ganoderma" species. There may be species that are found in Texas that I don't see up here in PA. A few subtropical/tropical polypores look like Reishi but are not species of Ganoderma. Subtropical fungi sometimes find their way into parts of southern North America. Pecan is an interesting substrate. So, it grows on hardwood. My best guess is G. sessile. It looks like it had been attached to the wood by a short/stubby stem. I don't know if G. sessile has been used as a Reishi mushroom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DShroomGuy Posted December 29, 2022 Report Share Posted December 29, 2022 Wish I still had the pics of a hot pink Ganoderma I once found in Central Florida. Definitely think it was a Ganoderma. Been back to the area multiple times but none have popped up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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