Ganoderma

The genus Ganoderma, also known as Wood Ganoderma, Shenzhi, Zhiqiao, Xianqiao, Ruiqiao, and Sanshou, includes species of the family Ganoderma lucidum and its close family genera in a broad sense, and in a narrower sense refers to specific species that are widely cultivated.

In ancient China, Ganoderma lucidum was regarded as an immortal herb because it was believed to have the effects of longevity and raising the dead.

Purple ganoderma contains ergosterol, organic acids (cis-ricinoleic acid, fenugreek acid, etc.), glucosamine, polysaccharides, resins, mannitol, and so on.

Chi Chi contains ergosterol, resin, fatty acids, mannitol and polysaccharides, as well as alkaloids, lactones, coumarin, water-soluble proteins and a variety of enzymes.

Herbal Traits

1, Chi Chi: Substrate umbrella-shaped, mycorrhizal cap (cap) hard corky, semicircular or kidney-shaped, 10-18 cm in diameter, about 2 cm thick. crust hard and firm, initially yellow, gradually changing to reddish-brown, glossy, with annular ribbing and radial wrinkles, the edge of the thin and truncated, often slightly inwardly rolled. The flesh of the fungus is nearly white to light brown; the flesh of the fungus on the lower surface of the cap is white to light brown, consisting of countless fine tubular pores (mycotubes), and the mycotubes contain stretcher apparatus and stretcher spores. The stipe is cylindrical, lateral, 7-15cm long, 1-4cm thick, reddish brown to purple-brown, with lacquer-like luster. Spores are tiny, yellow-brown. Gas slightly fragrant, bitter taste.

2、Purple Chi: The skin shell is purple-black or brown-black, with lacquer-like luster. The flesh of the fungus and the fungus tube under the cap are rusty brown. The stalk is 17-23cm long.

3、Cultivated Ganoderma lucidum: the substrate is thicker and fatter, with a diameter of 12-22cm and a thickness of 1.5-4cm, and is often covered with a large number of dusty yellow-brown spores outside the shell.

Plant Morphology

1, Chi Chi: a saprophytic fungus, substrate, stalked, corky. The cap is semicircular or reniform, 10-20 cm in diameter, 1.5-2 cm thick, tawny or reddish brown on the surface of the cap, the edges of the cap are gradually becoming yellowish, with concentric rings, slightly wrinkled or smooth, with bright lacquer-like luster, and the edges are slightly obtuse. Flesh creamy white, light brown near the tube. Mycotubes up to 1cm long, 4-5 per 1mm. The mouth of the tube is suborbicular, white at first, then light yellow or yellowish brown. Mycopodium cylindrical, lateral or partial, occasionally intermediate. Length 10-19cm, thickness 1.5-4cm, similar to the color of the cap. The mycelium of the cortical part is rod-shaped, with an expanded tip. Mycelial system tricoid, reproductive mycelium hyaline, thin-walled; skeletal mycelium yellow-brown, thick-walled, nearly solid; entangled mycelium colorless, thick-walled curved, all branched. Spores ovate, double-walled, flat-truncated at the tip, outer wall transparent, inner wall light brown, with small spines, size (9-11) μm × (6-7) μm, stramenopiles are mostly matured in the fall, and can be delayed to winter maturity in South and Southwest China.

2. Purple ganoderma: The difference with the former species is that: the cap of Purple ganoderma is mostly purple-black to nearly brown-black; the flesh of the fungus is uniformly brown, dark brown to chestnut-brown; the spores are umbilical protruding at the tip, and the small thorns protruding in the inner wall are obvious, the spores are larger, with the size of (9.5-13.8)μm×(6.9-8.5)μm.

Growth Apprenticeship

Ganoderma lucidum is a saprophytic fungus, also known as a parthenogenetic parasitic fungus because it can parasitize living trees. The temperature for growth is in the range of 3-40°C, with 26-28°C being the best. It grows well under the condition that the moisture content of the substrate is close to 200%, the relative humidity of the air is 90%, and the pH is 5-6. Ganoderma lucidum is an aerobic fungus and should have sufficient oxygen and diffused light when the substrate is cultivated.