Ganoderma sessile

Also known as Sessile Lacquered Polypore, Varnished Shelf Fungus

Sessile ganoderma emerges directly from the trunks and roots of dying or dead hardwoods as a broad shelf bracket with a shiny lacquer coating. Its woody cap displays rich tones of mahogany, amber, and reddish orange over a firm white underside that bruises brown when scratched. As a vital saprotroph in North American deciduous forests, it breaks down tough lignin and cellulose to recycle ancient trees back into fertile soil.