Species · GBIF taxon 2549834
artist's bracket
Ganoderma applanatumAlso known as Artist's Conk, Bear's Bread, Flattish Tinder Fungus
Artist's brackets grow as woody, shelf-like structures on dead or dying hardwood trees, forming semi-circular brackets that can persist for decades. The upper surface is a dull, grayish-brown crust often dusted with cocoa-colored spores, while the fresh white underside stains permanently brown when bruised or scratched. This unique staining property allows woodland artists to etch intricate, permanent designs directly onto the pore surface.
PerennialWood-decayingSpore-producer
- diet
- Lignin and cellulose from dead or dying hardwoods
- family
- Polyporaceae
- threats
- Intensive forestry practices that remove deadwood and host trees
- life Span
- Perennial, with individual brackets living for over 20 years
LC
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
- Scratch Art: Use a toothpick or stylus to gently draw on the fresh white underside to create permanent brown etchings.
- Spore Dusting: Look for a fine, cocoa-brown powder coating the top of the bracket or nearby bark, which is actually millions of released spores.
- Age Estimation: Count the concentric growth rings on the upper surface to estimate how many years the bracket has been growing.