Ganoderma

[flaxton]

This "Ganoderma" was found on a felled beech log. Unfortunately last years model. With its deep red and fairly thin upper surface I assume either G resinacium or G pfeifferi but as I have never knowingly seen the latter can anyone confirm?



Thanks
Mal

[fairplay]

Hi Mal,

I've never knowingly seen G.pfeifferi either, but I do know that overwintering G.resinaceum that have not been eaten by beetles are red like this and very soft /hollow inside.

Googling G.pfeifferi doesn't bring up any old red specimens, but it does bring up Peter's (Ditiola) find of last winter and I cannot see this turning red when it is old, or maybe it does.

Peter would be the man to answer this.

Neil.

[Ditiola]

Hi
There was some red in the G.pfeifferi that I found, but not as red as the specimen in your photograph:

The best feature to seperate them is the coulour of the context: Dark bronw in G.pfeifferi and light tan in G.resinaceum. Also G.pfeifferi has a layer of wax covering the pores in the winter months.

Apparently G.resinaceum is ussually destroyed by beatles after a couple of years, but G,pfeifferi is more resistant to beatle attack and lives much longer.

See:
Field Mycology V.6(2) 2005: p48
Field Mycoogy V2(2) 2001: p.60
Mycologist V9(2) 1995 p.60

Peter

[fairplay]

I was going to suggest looking at context colour, but at the state Mal's Ganoderma is in, I'd imagine most has been eaten away.

Neil.

[flaxton]

Does that help



Mal

[Ditiola]

You would have one 50/50

Although the pale areas and beetle holes say G resinaceum to me the darker area is probably coloured by spores (or just going off) its more likely for a pale context to stain darker than a dark one to lighten.

Peter

[flaxton]

Thanks for the help guys. I am pretty sure it is G resinacium and will look out for any new growth to confirm.

Mal