Ganoderma pfeifferi

5 May 2008 Berkshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin

Species

Ganoderma pfeifferi

Fruiting Body

Bracket shaped, laterally attached to the substrate, upper surface concentrically ridged, shiny as if varnished, red brown to purple brown, often coated with spores, underside white then yellowish, pores 4 to 5 per mm, to about 30 cm wide, and 15 cm deep

Flesh

Dark brown, tough

Smell

Fungal

Season

All year

Distribution

Infrequent

Habitat

On living and dead deciduous trees, usually Beech but also Oak

Spore Print

Brown

Microscopic Features

Spores ellipsoidal, truncated at one end (8.5-11.5) x (6.5-9) µm²

Edibility

Inedible

Notes

Take care not to confuse with Ganoderma resinaceum. The upper surface produces a yellow powder when scratched with a knife.