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Mushroom Monday: Ganoderma lucidum Mushrooms
Today’s Mushroom Monday mushroom is Ganoderma lucidum. It is commonly known as reishi or lingzhi among other names. The scientific name Ganoderma lucidum refers to its shiny appearance.
What do Ganoderma lucidum Mushrooms Look Like?
Ganoderma lucidum are large mushrooms. Their caps can grow to be ten inches across and around one and a half inches thick. Stems, when present, can range in size from around two to around six inches, although they can have no stem, a short stem, or a long stem.
Ganoderma lucidum are dark in color, their caps can have different rings of colors, and they have a shiny appearance. These mushrooms can be hard to identify though because they vary so much in appearance.
Where do Ganoderma lucidum Mushrooms Grow?
These mushrooms can be found in many places in the world that have subtropical and temperate climates. They grow like a shelf (or bracket) or spread out like fingers. The form depends on the oxygen available. They either grow alone or in groups of a few. They can be found around the bases of trees such as maples and oaks.
What Type of Relationship do Ganoderma lucidum Have With Trees?
Ganoderma lucidum can be a parasite or it can be saprophytic. This is similar to another Mushroom Monday mushroom, dryad’s saddle.
What Happens When its Spores are Released?
When the mushroom releases its spores in the summer or early fall, they come out like brown clouds. The spores can attach to the mushroom cap and to the tree the mushroom is growing on. The spores can cover the glossy appearance of the mushroom.
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