Polyporales » Ganodermataceae » Ganoderma

Ganoderma australe

Ganoderma australe (Fr.) Pat.

Index Fungorum number: 100745; Faceoffungi number:xxx

Ganoderma australe is a large bracket fungus that grows up to typically 25 cm across but exceptionally 50 cm, and 5 to 25 cm thick, with a pale margin and lower surface, and a dark brown or dark grey upper surface. The tube layer is brilliant white when ready to release spores, but as with other Ganoderma fungi the spores are brown and soon colour the surrounding area, including parts of the top of the bracket, with a dense brown dust. The red-brown tubes of the G. australe are tiered, a new layer being produced each year. The small round pores, typically 3 or 4 per mm, are white when the fruiting body is growing and approaching the time when spores will be released, turning brown with age or when bruised. A new tube layer grows on the lower surface each year. (Fig. 1)

 

Common names: Southern Bracket (English), Hed hu chang (Thailand and Laos), Ling zhi (Chinese).

Uses: too tough to be edible

Time of fruiting: This species lives for many years, and sporulating especially in the middle of the rainy season.

Habitat: A perennial bracket fungus that causes white heart rot, produces brackets on the lower parts of tree trunks.

Distribution: This species is found throughout most of mainland Europe, southern China, Laos, and Thailand and; is most common in central and northern Europe.

 

 

Fig. 1 The basidiomata of Ganoderma austral in field

 

 

 

 

Reference

Mortimer P. E., X J., Karunarathna S. C. & Hyde K. D. 2014–Mushrooms for trees and people: a field guide to useful mushrooms of the Mekong region. Kunming: The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF).

 

Recent News

Edibility, economic value and cultivated species

Recent Genus

Verrucospora
Xylodon
Scleroderma

Recent Species

Lactarius longipilus
Lactarius crocatus
Lactarius acicularis