Reishi
ExploreFungi
Reishi
Terebellides reishi
Reishi mushrooms are unique fungi that grow on trees. They have a shiny, reddish-brown cap and are known for their medicinal properties.
Habitat: Forest
Appearance
The Reishi has a distinct fan-shaped or kidney-shaped cap, often shiny and varnished, ranging from reddish-brown to dark brown with concentric growth rings. Its underside is white to pale brown, and it usually grows with a tough, often lopsided stem from wood. This smooth, lacquered appearance sets it apart from many other shelf fungi.
KingdomFungiPhylumAnnelidaClassAgaricomycetesOrderPolyporalesFamilyGanodermataceaeGenusGanoderma
Category
FungiRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient cultures called Reishi "the mushroom of immortality" because they believed it granted long life!
If you touch Reishi's white underside, you might see tiny brown spore dust – it's making billions of babies!
Reishi can be so shiny it looks like it's covered in lacquer, almost like a piece of polished wood!
Some Reishi mushrooms have been found to live for many years, adding new growth rings each season!
Special abilities
Ability
Wood Decomposer
Reishi can break down dead hardwood because it releases special enzymes that help recycle nutrients back into the forest ecosystem.
Ability
Self-Healing Armor
Reishi has a tough, varnished cap that helps protect it from drying out and provides a sturdy shield against insects or damage.
Ability
Spore Cloud Master
Reishi releases billions of microscopic spores from its pores, which helps it spread far and wide to colonize new dead trees.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 5-20 cm
- Edibility
- inedible
- Cap Diameter
- 5-30 cm
- Growth Substrate
- wood
- Season
- Summer to Fall
- Spore Color
- Brown
Ecological connections
eats
White Oak Tree
Quercus alba
Decomposes dead wood for nutrients
eaten by
Spotted Fungus Beetle
Diaperis maculata
Beetles munch on fruiting body
eats
Red Maple Tree
Acer rubrum
Feeds on dead or dying maples
Traits
Medicinal
Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
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
Ganoderma lucidumLingzhi
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Never eat mushrooms found in the wild unless an adult confirms they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Reishi?
5-20 cm
Is Reishi edible?
inedible
How big is Reishi?
5-30 cm
Where is Reishi usually found?
Forest
What does Reishi grow on?
wood
When is Reishi in season?
Summer to Fall
What color are Reishi spores?
Brown
Snap Map
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