Ganoderma tsugae, the hemlock varnish shelf, is a laccate annual polypore that grows on eastern hemlock and perhaps other conifers. It is parasitic and saprobic, causing a white butt rot of the heartwood. It closely resembles other varnished Ganoderma but is separated by its conifer host and white flesh.
Inedible: non-poisonous but generally considered inedible because of its tough, woody texture. The soft, fresh growing margin can be sauteed but remains chewy. It is mainly prepared as tea or extracts, in the same way as other reishi.
Never eat a wild mushroom based on a web page — confirm with an expert.
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 Entries are compiled from cited sources and reviewed, but may be incomplete or out of date — check the sources, and never rely on this library alone to identify or eat a mushroom.
Habitat
On living and dead eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and perhaps other conifers, often at the base of the trunk or on stumps; annual, spring through fall.
Distribution
Northern Midwest, northeastern North America and the Appalachian Mountains, wherever eastern hemlock grows; also reported from Arizona and New Mexico. Pacific Northwest conifer collections are G. oregonense.
Characteristics
Cap: 4-16 cm; knobby or elongated when young, becoming fan- or kidney-shaped; shiny and varnished, dark red to orangish red or reddish brown, young caps often with bright yellow and white zones near the margin. Pores: Whitish, becoming dingy reddish brown, usually bruising brown; 4-6 per mm; tubes to 1 cm. Stem: Usually present, 3-14 cm long and up to 3 cm thick, varnished, colored like the cap, often attached to one side. Flesh: Whitish, fairly soft when young and becoming tougher; no growth zones or melanoid bands. Chemical reactions: KOH black. Spore print: Brown. Spores: 8-12 x 5-7 um, ellipsoid, truncate, double-walled. Key features: On hemlock; varnished red cap with white flesh.
Difficulty
Advanced
Growth speed
Slow
Contamination risk
Low
Substrates
Larch (Larix gmelinii) log segments, 20-25 cm long · Sawdust-bran-soybean meal medium (spawn)
