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Zizhi, Purple Lingzhi
1 public strain
Ganoderma sinense, called zizhi ('purple Ganoderma') in Chinese, is a laccate reishi-type polypore with a purplish-black to black cap. It has long been used in Chinese medicine alongside red lingzhi and is cultivated in China. It grows on decaying wood of broadleaf trees and on pine stumps in China, Japan and Taiwan.
Not eaten as food: the fruitbody is corky-woody. It is used in traditional Chinese medicine as decoctions and extracts, and in 2010 China approved a G. sinense polysaccharide tablet as an adjunct therapy. Reishi-type products can interact with medications.
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Mycology is an evolving science: names, classifications and safety information change as research advances. Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
