Ganoderma brownii
Mycologia 53: 505. 1961.
Photo: Jane Wardzinska and Ganoderma
Common Name: artist's conk
Synonym: Elfvingia brownii Murrill
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Description
For description see Gilbertson & Ryvarden, Ginns, & 'California Mushrooms'.
- Habitat
Solitary to scattered or in small groups on living or standing dead hardwood trees, stumps, or logs, primarily on California bay laurel (Umbellularia californica); common, fruiting throughout the year, widely distributed.
- Edibility
Inedible, woody.
- Comments
Ganoderma brownii can be recognized by a dull, brown to grayish brown, lumpy-zonate cap that is often dusted with brown spores, and a white to yellowish white pore surface that instantly darkens when injured. The latter feature makes it a favorite among artists, who use the smooth pore surface as a canvas (hence its common name). Collecting perennial polypores like G. brownii should be discouraged, as they can live for decades. Ganoderma brownii is often confused with Gandoderma applanatum, which also occurs in California, but the latter differs in having a white pore surface (supposedly lacking a yellow cast), smaller spores and grows on a variety of hardwood trees, occasionally on conifers. It is common on conifers on the far north coast.
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References
Desjardin, D.E., Wood, M.G. & Stevens, F.A. (2015). California Mushrooms: The Comprehensive Identification Guide. Timber Press: Portland, OR. 560 p.
Gilbertson, R.L. & Ryvarden, L. (1986). North American Polypores, vol. 1. Fungiflora: Oslo, Norway. 433 p. (PDF)
Ginns, J. (2017). Polypores of British Columbia (Fungi: Basidiomycota). British Columbia: Victoria, BC. 260 p. (PDF)
Murrill, W.A. (1915). Western Polypores. Privately Published: New York, NY. 41 p. (Protologue)
Overholts, L.O. (1953). The Polyporaceae of the United States, Alaska, and Canada. University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor, MN. 466 p. (PDF)
Siegel, N. & Schwarz, C. (2016). Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p. -
Other Descriptions and Photos
- Michael Wood: Ganoderma brownii (CP)
- Michael Wood: Ganoderma brownii (CP)
- Michael Wood: Ganoderma brownii (CP)
- Michael Wood: Ganoderma brownii (CP) — note the brown spores under the sporocarp
- Dimitar Bojantchev: Ganoderma brownii (CP)
- Mushroom Observer: Ganoderma brownii (CP)
- Michael Wood: Ganoderma brownii (CP)
