Ganoderma.
Fungi > Basidiomycota > Agaricomycetes > Order Polyporales > Family Ganodermataceae.
The identification, naming and classification of Ganoderma species appears to be a long way from finished.
There is no overall agreement on the number of species or which names are species and which are synonyms.
Ganoderma species can be identified histologically by examination of the spores which have a double wall.
Separation into species can be impossible morphologically because differences are so slight.
Variations within a species also increases the difficulty.
There may only be 6 species in Australia with 5 of them found in Queensland.
Most commonly seen here are Ganoderma australe and Ganoderma steyaertanum.
The first has a matt surface and the second a waxy or varnished appearance.
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Ganoderma australe.
These are usually seen on the lower few metres of living or dead tree trunks and rarely on fallen logs.
The tough woody brackets (conks) are fan or hoof-shaped and almost always with no stalk.
Commonly around 25 cm across they can be twice that.
The dull or matt upper surface is brown and the round edge is white (G. steyaertanum is yellow).
Older specimens become increasingly cracked or knobbly.
They can live for years with a new layer forming underneath each year.
The spore bearing layer underneath is white and bruises easily.
The tubes are 12 mm long and the pores are small with about 4 to 5 per mm.
Large amounts of red-brown spores are released.
J.F.
