Fungus · GBIF taxon 7241318
hemlock varnish shelf
Ganoderma tsugaeAlso known as Hemlock Reishi, Northeastern Reishi, Varnish Shelf
Hemlock varnish shelf emerges as a striking, kidney-shaped polypore with a brilliant reddish-brown, lacquer-like cap that appears freshly shellacked. It grows primarily on decaying Eastern hemlock logs and stumps throughout northeastern North America, playing a vital role as a white-rot decomposer. Underneath its shiny upper surface lies a creamy white pore layer that bruises brown when touched and lacks the gills typical of standard mushrooms.
PolyporeDecomposerWood-Decaying
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Lignin
- Cellulose
- Decaying Hemlock Wood
Predators
- Fungus Beetles
- Fungus Gnat Larvae
- Slugs
ThreatsLoss of hemlock trees from invasive hemlock woolly adelgid infestations
HabitatsTemperate coniferous and mixed forests with hemlock
Life spanAnnual fruiting bodies (spring to autumn)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPolyporales
- FamilyPolyporaceae
- GenusGanoderma
- SpeciesGanoderma tsugae
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
- Observe Cap Texture: Look for the glossy, wet-looking sheen on mature caps even in dry weather.
- Check the Pore Surface: Examine the underside to confirm tiny white-to-tan pores that bruise brown when pressed.
- Note Host Substrate: Verify that the growing medium is dead or decaying hemlock or another conifer.
Host Tree (c) Ian Manning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ian Manning · cc-by
Close Relative "Reishi Mushroom" by Wendell Smith is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative no rights reserved · cc0
Close Relative (c) Alan Rockefeller, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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