Fungus
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
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyLignin, 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)
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
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Ecosystem chain Pro
Secret Garden
Hemlock Varnish Shelf is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
Unlock to track progress
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.