365 Urban Species. #081: Artist's Conk

[urbpan]

Urban species #081: Artist's conk Ganoderma applanatum

Most shelf- or bracket-shaped mushrooms (those that grow directly from wood without stalks) deteriorate within a few weeks or months. Artist's conk actually gets bigger. This is a rare example of a perennial mushroom: the same fruiting body persists for years, building a new spore-bearing surface with each growing season. In ideal conditions, an artist's conk can grow to be quite large, up to a foot or more in diameter. The bracket is exceptionally sturdy for a mushroom as well, so that it can support its ever-growing weight. Artist's conk is as hard or harder than the wood it grows from. This fungus is very widespread, found on all continents, on many different kinds of wood.

The common name of this mushroom comes from its usefulness as a kind of etching canvas. The fresh, white, spore-producing underside can be scratched away to reveal the dark brown color underneath. Especially skilled artists can use techniques to create half-tones.







Drawings on artist's conk (often called "wood fungus" in folk art circles):

http://www.bostonmycologicalclub.org/Checklist2001/Ganoderma_applanatum_2001-09-08_a.jpg

http://www.sunnews.com/images/2005/0106/BR010655C.jpg

Comments

[lizblackdog.livejournal.com]

WOW!

just wow!

found on all continents, hmm? MUST get one!

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

"...widespread in Britain..."

[maybethecat.livejournal.com]

cool

[drocera.livejournal.com]

There's a little fishing cabin up in Moosehead Maine that has a shelf dedicated to wood fungus. For years, dating back to the 1950's (wow) the people who have stayed at this cabin have been inscribing messages, dates and length of fish caught on these natural wonders. I have quite a few messages scribbled on some on them myself (one which includes sentiments of love that are no longer felt for a certain person - ha!)

[ankhanu.livejournal.com]

Just so everyone knows, if you paint on them using a fairly fluid paint, the paint will quite rapidly simply be absorbed by the fungus :P It may go better with thicker paints.

Ganoderma spp. are also a treasure trove of insects. If you check underneath on the spore bearing surface, you can find a variety of fungus-associated insects. Also if you crack them open, you can find even more. I can't walk in the woods anymore without stopping a few times to take a peek under some fungi.