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figure 318. U. lucidum (F'orintek's 34-D) 7 days at.
ter inoculation onto malt extract medium.
GROWTH PARAMETERS 357
One historic and notable attempt to distinguish
the North American from the Far Eastern
taxa can be found in an article published by R.
Imazeki (in Japanese) titled "Reishi and
Ganoderma lucidum that grow in Europe and
America: Their Differences", 1937.
Currently, the best treatises discussing the
taxonomy of these polypores are Gilbertson &
Ryvarden's (1987) monograph, North American
Polypores: Vol. I & II and Zhao's (1989)
The Ganodernzataceae in China. The spore
size of G. lucidum is smaller than the inclusive
range of 13-17 in length by 7.5-10 p in width
characteristic of G. oregonense and G. tsugae.
Nevertheless, Gilbertson & Ryvarden did not
consider this feature to be more significant than
habitat when delineating these three taxa in
their Key to Species. Placing emphasis on habitat
may also be a dubious distinction when
considering these species produce fruitbodies
on non-native woods when cultivated. Features
of higher taxonomic significance—such as interfertility studies and DNA fingerprinting—are
needed to support accurate and defensible species delineation. For instance, interfertility studies with
some collections reveal that G. curtisii (Berk.) Mun. may merely be a yellow form of G. lucidum
common to the southeastern United States. (SeeAdaskaveg & (Iiilbertson (1986 &1987) and Hseu &
Wang (1991)).
From a collector's point of view, G. oregonense is a much more massive mushroom than G.
lucidum and is characterized by a thick pithy flesh in the cap. Also G. ore gonense favors colder
climates whereas G. lucidum is found is warmer regions. (G. lucidum has not been reported from
the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions.) Ganoderma curtisii, a species not recognized
by Gilbertson & Ryvarden, but acknowledged by Zhao (1989) and Weber (1985) grows in
eastern North America, and is distinguished from others by the predominantly yellowish colored
cap as it emerges These North American "Reishis"—Ganoderina lucidum, G. curtisii,
G. oregonense, and G. tsugae represent a constellation of closely related individuals, probably
stemming from a common ancestry. The argument for retaining them as separate species may be
primarily ecological and host specific and not biological. One of the few cultural distinctions described
by Adaskaveg & Gilbertson (1986) is that G. lucidum produces chlamydospores in culture
whereas G. tsugae does not.
In Asia, Ganoderma lucidum has a number of unique allies. Most notably, a black stalked
Ganoderma species, also considered to be a Reishi, is called Ganoderma japonicum Teng (=
Ganoderma sinense Zhao, Xu et Zhang colloquially known as Zi zhi.)
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