fungi · GBIF taxon 7241318
Ganoderma tsugae
ganoderma tsugaeAlso known as Hemlock Varnish Shelf, Hemlock Reishi
Hemlock varnish shelves emerge as brilliant, lacquer-red brackets on decaying eastern hemlocks and other conifers. Their shiny, varnished caps fade to a dull brown as they age and release dense clouds of rusty-brown spores. These wood-decaying fungi play a vital role in forest ecosystems by breaking down tough lignin and recycling nutrients back into the soil.
Wood-decayingConifer-associatedVarnished
1 / 7- diet
- Wood decay (saprophytic)
- family
- Polyporaceae
- threats
- Loss of mature hemlock forests due to hemlock woolly adelgid
- life Span
- Annual fruiting bodies with perennial underground mycelium
NE
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
- Spore printing: Place a fresh cap pore-side down on paper to collect its rusty-brown spores.
- Host tree check: Search specifically on dead or dying eastern hemlock trees and stumps.
- Texture observation: Gently touch the upper surface to feel the smooth, lacquer-like crust.