About
Ganoderma applanatum, commonly known as the Artist’s Conk, is a widespread, woody shelf fungus recognized for its long life, hard texture, and ability to be used as a natural canvas for artwork. Found on dead or dying hardwoods across temperate regions worldwide, this polypore is also valued for its traditional medicinal uses, particularly in Asian and Indigenous herbal practices.
History
The nickname “Artist’s Conk” comes from the unique property of its white pore surface: when scratched, it turns dark brown, allowing detailed etchings and drawings to remain permanently. This artistic use has been known for centuries and is still popular among foragers and naturalists.
In traditional medicine, especially Chinese and Native American systems, G. applanatum has been used to prepare teas and tinctures believed to boost immunity, support lung health, and reduce inflammation. Modern research has confirmed the presence of bioactive compounds such as polysaccharides and triterpenes with antioxidant and immunomodulating effects.
Overview
The fruiting body of Ganoderma applanatum is a large, flat, shelf-like conk that can persist for years. It often grows in overlapping clusters on dead logs or stumps. The upper surface is brown and ridged, while the underside is white with fine pores that bruise dark brown when scratched.
While too woody to eat, the fungus is used medicinally and artistically. It is typically dried and made into decoctions or powdered for supplement capsules. Its resilience and biological richness make it a significant species both ecologically and culturally.
Flavors
Bitter
Ganoderma applanatum is often described as having a bitter taste, which is one of the reasons it's not typically used in culinary dishes.
Textures
Hard
The fruiting body of Artist's Conk is hard and tough.
Rough
The fruiting body of Artist's Conk is rough and textured.
Zonate
The fruiting body of Artist's Conk is zonate, meaning it has concentric zones of color.
Fragrances
Earthy
Ganoderma applanatum has a natural earthy aroma.
Woody
Given its growth on old tree roots, it can sometimes have a slightly woody scent.
Physical Characteristics
Caps:
Up to 60 cm wide, fan-shaped with concentric zones. Reddish brown to black.
Gills:
White pores, 5-7 per mm.
Helps With
Immune System
Stimulates immune response through effects on monocytes, T-cells, and cytokine production
Inflammation
Reduces inflammation through inhibition of prostaglandins and histamine release
Oxidative Stress
Scavenges free radicals and increases levels of antioxidant enzymes
Medicinal Chemistry
Similar Species
Species: Ganoderma lucidum
Edibility: medicinal
Key Differences: G. lucidum has bright red cap, G. applanatum is brown to black
Species: Ganoderma lucidum
Edibility: medicinal
Nutrition Facts
Mushroom Ratings
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01/29/2025
Josh Shearer
References
Comparison between antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds of Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Pat. and Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.) P. Karst from Iran
Ganoderic Acid and Exopolysaccharide Production by Ganoderma Lucidum from Semi-Solid-State and Submerged Fermentation
Optimal culture conditions for mycelial growth and fruiting body formation of Ling Zhi mushroom Ganoderma lucidum strain GA3
Extracts of Polypore Mushroom Mycelia Reduce Viruses in Honey Bees
Medium composition optimization, structural characterization, and antioxidant activity of exopolysaccharides from the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lingzhi
Polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum attenuate microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and modulate microglial phagocytosis and behavioural response
Antitubercular Activity of Mycelium-Associated Ganoderma Lanostanoids
Antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts made of mushroom mycelia developed in submerged culture
Culture broth of Ganoderma lucidum exhibited antioxidant, antibacterial and α-amylase inhibitory activities
The effects of freeze-dried Ganoderma lucidum mycelia on a recurrent oral ulceration rat model
Members of Ganoderma genus, belong to Basidiomycota, such as Ganoderma applanatum and Ganoderma lucidum have been noticed in traditional and modern medicine and pharmacology for their medicinal properties and bioactive compounds. The present study is undertaken to determine whether there is difference between chemical properties of G. applanatum and G. lucidum. The fresh mature fruiting bodies of fungi growing on common hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), were collected in Neka, a county in Mazandaran Province, Iran, and their antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds content were examined by spectrophotometer and HPLC method.
2020
Production of Ganoderic acid (GA) and Exopolysaccharide (EPS) with using beneficial fermentation strategy has received great attention recently. The aim of present study is comparison of GA and EPS production by G. lucidium in submerge, Semi-Solid and Solid-State fermentation.
2019
The objective in this study is to investigate optimal culture conditions for mycelial growth and fruiting body formation of the Ling Zhi mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum strain GA3. The results of the study show that the optimal media and temperature for the mycelial growth are potato, glucose, and agar (PGA) supplemented with rice bran, and 25-30oC, respectively. Strain GA3 is able to grow in a wide pH range, between 4 and 12.
2019
Waves of highly infectious viruses sweeping through global honey bee populations have contributed to recent declines in honey bee health. Bees have been observed foraging on mushroom mycelium, suggesting that they may be deriving medicinal or nutritional value from fungi. Fungi are known to produce a wide array of chemicals with antimicrobial activity, including compounds active against bacteria, other fungi, or viruses.
2018
To contribute towards effective exploitation and utilization of natural antioxidants, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the medium composition for the production of exopolysaccharides from the medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lingzhi (GLEPS). An optimal medium for GLEPS production was gave through Plackett-Burman design, path of steepest ascent, and Box-Behnken design as follows: glucose (59.62g/L), yeast extract (10.03g/L), CaCO3 (0.2g/L), thiamine (45.13mg/L), KH2PO4 (1.0g/L), peptone (1.5g/L)
2018
Ganoderma lucidum (GL) has been widely used in Asian countries for hundreds of years to promote health and longevity. The pharmacological functions of which had been classified, including the activation of innate immune responses, suppression of tumour and modulation of cell proliferations. Effective fractions of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLP) had already been reported to regulate the immune system. Nevertheless, the role of GLP in the microglia-mediated neuroinflammation has not been sufficiently elucidated.
2017
In a continuation of our research into antitubercular lanostane triterpenoids from submerged cultures of Ganoderma species, three strains, Ganoderma orbiforme BCC 22325, Ganoderma sp. BCC 60695, and Ganoderma australe BCC 22314, have been investigated. Fourteen new lanostane triterpenoids, together with 35 known compounds, were isolated. Antitubercular activities of these mycelium-associated Ganoderma lanostanoids against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra were evaluated.
2017
The ethanolic extracts of dried biomass made of mushroom mycelium produced in the submerged cultures of eight edible/medicinal macromycete species Ganoderma applanatum, Ganoderma lucidum, Laetiporus sulphureus, Flammulina velutipes, Trametes versicolor, Hericium coralloides, Pleurotus eryngii 2600 and Agaricus campestris were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities. Pathogenic tested microorganisms were represented by five bacteria and two yeasts B.subtilis subsp. spizizenii ATCC 6633, Staphilococcus aureus ATCC6538, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, E.faecalis ATCC 29212, Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Candida parapsilosis CBS604.
2017
Culture broth of Ganoderma lucidum was determined for antioxidant, antibacterial and α-amylase inhibitory activities. The culture broth contained protein as determined by Bradford method equaled to 0.2 mg/ml and total phenol content as 0.078 mg GAE/mg protein (0.557 mg GAE/g extract). It exhibited radicals scavenging activities against ABTS+· and DPPH·radicals with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) less than 1.70 ± 0.02 and 2.28 ± 0.02 µg protein/ml, respectively and reducing power equaled to 4.38 ± 0.02 µmol Trolox/µg protein as investigated by ferric ion reducing antioxidant power method.
2017
Conventional scientific studies had supported the use of polysaccharides and β-glucans from a number of fungi, including Ganoderma lucidum for the treatment of recurrent oral ulceration (ROU). Our aim of the present study was to evaluate whether freeze-dried powder from G. lucidum mycelia (FDPGLM) prevents ROU in rats. Methods: A Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model with ROU was established by autoantigen injection.
2017