Ganoderma australe - Southern Bracket

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Polyporales

Ganoderma australe (syn. Ganoderma adspersum) is a very common perennial bracket fungus that causes, a white heart rot trees of the genera Tilia (limes), Quercus (oaks), Fagus (beech, birch etc), Platanus (Sycamore etc) and Aesculus (Horse Chestnut and relatives). In the early stages of colonisation it is thought to be a parasitic fungus, but as the tree dies it becomes saprotrophic, as most parasitic fungi do. The perennial fruitbodies of Gamoderma australe appear mainly on the lower trunk, and most often very close to the base.

This tough, inedible bracket lives for many years, developing noticeable growing ridges on the upper surface.

Identification Guide

Description	This large bracket fungus grows to typically 25cm across but exceptionally 50cm, and 5 to 25cm thick, with a pale margin and lower surface and a dark brown or dark grey upper surface. The tube layer is brilliant white when ready to release spores, but as with other Ganoderma fungi the spores are brown and soon colour the surrounding area including parts of the top of the bracket with a dense brown dust.
Tubes and Pores	The red-brown tubes are tiered, a new layer being produced each year. The small round pores, typically three or four per mm, are white when the fruiting body is growing and approaching the time when spores will be released, turning brown with age or when bruised. A new tube layer grows on the lower surface each year.
Spore print	Brown.
Odour/taste	Very little odour but a bitter taste.
Habitat	On the lower parts of tree trunks.
Season	Perennial but releasing spores in late summer and autumn.
Occurrence	Common.
Similar species	Ganoderma resinaceum, which releases a yellow resin when broken, has a much thicker white margin than Ganoderma australe. Ganoderma applanatum is similar but with thinner brackets.