Reishi Ganoderma tsugae

Identification
This mushroom has red varnished cap with white margin.

Location
Common in northern Ohio

Size
4 to 10 inch caps

Diet
It feeds on decaying conifers.

Habitat
It occurs in hemlock forests.

Activity Period
May to September

Behavior
It grows on hemlock wood. It appears in warm humid weather.

Lifecycle
Fruiting occurs in summer.

Population
The population is stable but habitat limited.

History
It has long been known in northern regions.

Human Interactions
It is used in traditional medicine.

Facts
It is called the mushroom of immortality in folklore.

Sources
ODNR academic sources

Wood decay | Hemlock logs stumps | Northern Ohio