| Edibility: | edible |
| Substrates: | hardwoods |
| Synonyms | |
| |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kindom: | Fungi |
| Phylum: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Polyporales |
| Family: | Ganodermataceae |
| Genus: | Ganoderma |
| Species: | Lucidum |
A mushroom of many names, Ganoderma lucidum has been used medicinally be diverse peoples for centuries. The Japanese call this mushroom Reishi or Nammentake (10,000 Year Mushroom) whereas the Chinese and Koreans know it as Ling Chi, Ling Chih, or Ling Zhi (Mushroom of Immortality)). Renowned for its health stimulating properties, this mushroom is more often depicted in ancient Chinese, Korean, and Japanese art than any other. Ling Chi is traditionally associated with royalty, health, and recuperation, longevity, sexual prowess, wisdom, and happiness. Ling Chi has been depicted in royal tapestries, often portrayed with renowned sages of teh era. For a time, the Chinese even believed this mushroom could bring the dead to life when a tincture specifically made from it was laid upon one's chest.
The mushroom is known by many in North America and Europe as one of the "Artists Conk" fungi. (The true Artist Conk is Ganoderma applanatum). As the fruitbody develops, the spore producing under layer, the hymenium, is white and can be drawn upon. As the pores are crushed, a browning reaction occurs, thus allowing the artist to sketch an image.
- Spore print: reddish brown
- Mycelium: Longitudinally radial, non-aerial, initially white, rapid growing, becoming densely matted & appressed, yellow to golden brown, and often zonate with age. Some strains produce a brown hymenophore on MEA.
Cultivation[edit | edit source]
Parameters[edit | edit source]
Spawn run
Primordia Formation
- Temperature: 65-75°F (18-24°C) for antler formation, 70-80°F (21-27°C) for conk formation,
- Humidity: 95-100%
- Duration: 5-7 days
- CO2: 20,000 to 40,000 ppm for antlers, 2000-5000 for conks
- Light reqs: 4-8 hours at 200-500 lux for antlers, 12 hours on/off 750-1500 lux for conks
- FAEs: 0-1 per hour for antlers, 3-4 per hour for conks
Fruit body Development
- Temperature: 65-75°F (18-24°C) for antler formation, 70-80°F (21-27°C) for conk formation,
- Humidity: (85) 90-95%
- Duration: 40-60 days
- CO2: 20,000 to 40,000 ppm for antlers, 2000-5000 for conks
- Light reqs: 4-8 hours at 200-500 lux for antlers, 12 hours on/off 750-1500 lux for conks
- FAEs: 0-1 per hour for antlers, 3-4 per hour for conks
Substrates[edit | edit source]
Reishi mushrooms prefer hardwood substrates in the form of wood chips, sawdust or whole logs.
