Ganoderma Sessile
ExploreFungi
Ganoderma Sessile
ganoderma sessile
Ganoderma sessile is a type of mushroom that grows on trees and looks like a shiny, brown shelf! Kids can find it in forests where it helps break down dead wood.
Habitat: Forests, often found on the sides of trees.
Appearance
The Ganoderma Sessile is a tough, shelf-like bracket fungus, often semicircular or kidney-shaped. Its upper surface is typically reddish-brown to dark brown with concentric growth zones, sometimes appearing varnished. The underside, or pore surface, is white when young and darkens when touched.
KingdomFungiPhylumBasidiomycotaClassAgaricomycetesOrderPolyporalesFamilyPolyporaceaeGenusGanoderma
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
5
Interesting facts
It prefers to grow on broadleaf trees like oaks and maples, rarely on conifers!
Its shiny cap sometimes looks like it's covered in a layer of clear varnish!
This mushroom doesn't have gills; it releases spores from tiny pores underneath!
You can often find groups of them growing in stair-steps up a tree trunk!
Special abilities
Ability
Ironclad Shield
Ganoderma Sessile has an incredibly tough, woody texture that helps it survive for many years on trees.
Ability
Spore Shower
Ganoderma Sessile continuously releases billions of microscopic spores that help it spread to new locations.
Ability
Cellulose Crusher
Ganoderma Sessile secretes powerful enzymes that break down tough wood, returning nutrients to the soil.
Measurements & details
- Edibility
- inedible
- Cap Diameter
- 5-30 cm
- Growth Substrate
- wood
- Season
- Year-round
- Spore Color
- Rust-brown
Ecological connections
parasitizes
White Oak
Quercus alba
Causes white rot decay in living or dead wood.
parasitizes
Sugar Maple
Acer saccharum
Decays the heartwood of mature maple trees.
eaten by
Fungus Beetle
Cis boleti
Larvae of these beetles often burrow into the fungal tissue.
Traits
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Herbivorous
This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
wood conk
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Ganoderma Sessile?
The easiest way to identify Ganoderma Sessile is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
Is Ganoderma Sessile edible?
inedible
How big is Ganoderma Sessile?
5-30 cm
Where is Ganoderma Sessile usually found?
Forests, often found on the sides of trees.
What does Ganoderma Sessile grow on?
wood
When is Ganoderma Sessile in season?
Year-round
What color are Ganoderma Sessile spores?
Rust-brown
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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Recent Snaps
Oct 13, 2024
Capitol Hilli
Photo attribution
(c) Frederick Nunley, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Sep 27, 2024
Capitol Hilli
Photo attribution
(c) Frederick Nunley, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Where to spot
Park45 sightings50 species
Texas, US
Botanical Research Institute of Texas
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Park30 sightings12 species
Pennsylvania, US
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve
You might spot Virginia Bluebells, Bloodroot, and Duck.
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Park19 sightings12 species
District of Columbia, US
Capitol Hill
You might spot Eastern Carpenter Bee and Common Eastern Bumble Bee.
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Park30 sightings12 species
Georgia, US
East Main Street Commercial Historic District
You might spot Southern Toad, Anole, and Asian Lady Beetle.
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Park29 sightings12 species
Indiana, US
Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District
You might spot American Bullfrog, Green Frog, and Eastern Carpenter Bee.
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Park125 sightings8 species
Pennsylvania, US
Clarence H. Clark Park
You might spot American Robin, Kentucky Yellowwood, and Kousa Dogwood.
View guide →
