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October 1, 2021  |  By Ben Ivers

Hemlock Varnish Shelf Mushroom

Hemlock Varnish Shelf Mushroom Live

HEMLOCK VARNISH SHELF - IUCN Conservation Status: INSUFFICIENT DATA

This is a large hemlock varnish shelf!

This photo is of a hemlock varnish shelf mushroom. The scientific name of this mushroom is Ganoderma tsugae. The scientific name comes from the Greek word ganos, which means “brightness”, and derma, which means “skin”. The scientific name further comes from the genus of hemlock trees, Tsuga. This species is also known as hemlock reishi.

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What do Hemlock Varnish Shelf look like?

The hemlock varnish shelf pictured here is almost a foot wide, making it to be one of the larger specimens of this type of mushroom. As you may have guessed from the name, they are most commonly found on hemlock trees; however, the hemlock varnish shelf can also grow on firs and other conifers. When they start out their growth, these mushrooms appear on the tree as soft white balls.. The mushrooms then morph into fan or shell-shaped caps. At their biggest they will grow to a little over 30 centimeters (or about one foot). Towards the end of the life of the hemlock varnish shelf mushroom, they will begin to fade. I took this photo in early November in Tennessee in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The dullish red color meant that it was nearing the end of its life. Th

What are uses for Hemlock Varnish Shelf?

Hemlock varnish shelf mushrooms are very closely related to Ganoderma lucidum, and are often considered one in the same in collection for traditional eastern medicine. The Ganoderma genus is prized for purported benefits to health. In Japanese, the mushroom is called either reishi, which means “immortality plant”, or mannetake, which means “10,000 year mushroom”. Between the different ganoderma species, nearly 4,300 metric tons are collected each year at a value of $3.1 billion dollars per year.

Bubbling Sap

What are polypores?

The hemlock varnish shelf mushroom is a type of polypore mushroom. Polypores are hard mushrooms that have pores underneath its caps. The topside of the mushroom is called the context. Inside of the context is a core, and on the bottom side where the pores are is a layer of tubes. The tubes are where the spores form within the mushroom and then are released to the world.

Polypores are a type of mushroom

More Fun Facts!

  • Hemlock varnish mushrooms will grow on the trunks of both live and dead trees.
  • This mushroom is used to make extracts and teas for use in eastern medicine.
  • Although it is not typically considered to be an edible mushroom, some people will collect the early growths of this shelf mushroom and will saute it like other mushrooms. It is not poisonous, but it is not considered edible.
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Matt Hamas and Ben Ivers here. We are focused on fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the environment. We endeavor to bring you a unique perspective of the wild. Our photos are being placed here for you to enjoy. Please feel free to download any of the photos for your personal use. We are currently seeking partners for printing and developing photos.

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