Ganoderma lucidum

(Curtis) P. Karst.

A mature fruiting body with a long stipe on a fallen hornbeam in Thorndon Country Park, Essex.
Brackets emerging from a hornbeam stump in Eastwood, Essex
Mature brackets at the base of horse chestnut near Regents Park, London
Mature brackets with a green tinge at the base of a sycamore in Barnet, London
The white pore layer and dark red stipe on hornbeam in Thorndon Country Park, Essex

A mature fruiting body with a long stipe on a fallen hornbeam in Thorndon Country Park, Essex.
Brackets emerging from a hornbeam stump in Eastwood, Essex
Mature brackets at the base of horse chestnut near Regents Park, London
Mature brackets with a green tinge at the base of a sycamore in Barnet, London
The white pore layer and dark red stipe on hornbeam in Thorndon Country Park, Essex
The worn but distinctly red-purple lacquered upper surface common of this species in Bedford, UK.
A young fruit body on a hornbeam stump in Southend, UK.
Multiple young fruit bodies on a hornbeam stump in Southend, UK.
Active and senescent fruit bodies adjacent on hornbeam in Laindon, UK.
The sometimes very long stipe of fruit bodies emerging from cavities.

Common name

Lacquered bracket; reishi.

Often found on

Hornbeam.

Sometimes found on

Horse chestnut, maple, oak.

Location

Found growing out from the ground near the base of the stem or along the stem / at the stem base.

Description

Usually Annual . Tough and woody. Often has a long stem (stipe). Upper surface and stipe generally varnished red-mahogany – can be zoned. Sometimes greenish. Often rimmed orange-yellow to white. Pore surface white. Flesh brown. Spore brown – can cover upper surface to hide varnished appearance. Generally, quite small though infrequently becomes quite large. Occurs singularly or in groups / clusters.

Confused with

Ganoderma resinaceum (almost always much larger and often lacking a stipe).

Significance

Parasitic . Attributed to a selective white rot of the wood. Where targets exist, depending upon the location of the fruiting body, investigations into hollowness and / or structural stability may be required. May be able to infect via root-to-root contact, according to Indian study.