Michael Davis
Artist's conk (Ganoderma applanatum) is a fungus that grows on dead wood or in the wounds of living deciduous trees. It is found in almost every state in America, all across Canada, and on other continents. Artist's conk is a perennial fungus, meaning it can be found in all four seasons in the Northeast. It is used for art and communication and has been for thousands of years. It is also used for its health benefits, which include treating poor blood oxygenation and altitude sickness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common name | Artist's Conk |
| Scientific name | Ganoderma applanatum |
| Other names | Artist's bracket, artist's fungus, bear bread, kofuki-saru-no-koshikake, shu-she-ling-zhi |
| Classification | Basidiomycete-like gilled mushrooms, bracket or shelf fungi, polypore |
| Appearance | Semicircular, brown to grayish-black, woody texture, white underside that bruises dark grey to black |
| Size | 3-30 cm wide, 5-50 cm long, 1-10 cm thick |
| Habitat | Found in the majority of American and Canadian forests and suburbs, particularly in lowlands; can tolerate almost any habitat with dead and dying hardwoods |
| Host | Grows on dead wood or wounds of living deciduous trees, including beech, poplar, alder, apple, elm, buckeye, horse chestnut, maple, oak, live oak, walnut |
| Life cycle | Perennial, can live over a decade, increasing in size and forming new layers of pores each year |
| Uses | Used for art and communication throughout history; used in traditional medicine in Asia, Africa, and North America; used as a flavor enhancer in Asian cuisine |
| Medicinal properties | Anti-tumor, antibacterial, antifibrotic, antimicrobial, immune-enhancing, anti-inflammatory |
| Edibility | Non-digestible in raw form, edible when cooked; used to make tea, tinctures, and decoctions |
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What You'll Learn
- Artist's Conk is a perennial fungus found in the majority of American and Canadian forests
- It is used as a medicinal crop and flavour enhancer in Asian cuisine
- Artist's Conk has been used for art and communication throughout history
- It is believed that the compounds found in the mushroom are accumulated as the tree is broken down and digested
- The mushroom is non-digestible in its raw form but is edible when cooked
Artist's Conk is a perennial fungus found in the majority of American and Canadian forests
Artist's Conk, scientifically known as Ganoderma applanatum, is a perennial fungus species found in the majority of American and Canadian forests and suburbs. It is a type of bracket fungus that grows on dead wood or in the wounds of living deciduous trees. Artist's Conk is characterised by its semicircular, brownish brackets with a white underside that bruises dark grey to black when damaged.
Artist's Conk gets its name from the natural canvas on the underside of its fruiting body. When this surface is etched or scratched, it reveals dark brown tissue underneath, creating a beautiful contrast that makes it a unique drawing medium for artists. The artistic value of this fungus is further enhanced by its perennial nature, allowing it to be utilised throughout the year.
As a perennial species, Artist's Conk can live for over a decade and continues to grow larger each year. Its age can be determined by cutting a specimen in half and counting the number of pore layers, similar to the rings of a tree. This longevity is attributed to its effective survival strategy, which involves parasitising on the wood of living and dead trees, breaking down their tough structure, and returning nutrients to the soil.
In addition to its artistic significance, Artist's Conk has a long history of medicinal use. It is believed to possess various health benefits, including antimicrobial, immune-enhancing, anti-tumour, antibacterial, and anti-fibrotic properties. The fungus is also used to address issues related to poor blood oxygenation and altitude sickness. Furthermore, Artist's Conk is edible when cooked and is utilised as a flavour enhancer in Asian cuisine and perfumery.
While Artist's Conk is abundant in nature, it is important to exercise caution when harvesting it. A significant percentage of these fungi may be mouldy, and the only way to determine their usability is to split them open and inspect the internal layers. Responsible harvesting is crucial to ensure the fungus' reproductive potential is not compromised.
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It is used as a medicinal crop and flavour enhancer in Asian cuisine
Artist's conk, or Ganoderma applanatum, is a fungus found in the majority of American and Canadian forests and suburbs. It is also found across many other world continents. Artist's conk is a perennial fungus, meaning it can be found in all four seasons and can live well over a decade. The mushroom's age can be determined by cutting it in half and observing the number of layers, similar to tree rings.
Artist's conk is used as a medicinal crop and flavour enhancer in Asian cuisine. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is known as shu-she-ling-zhi and has been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years. Artist's conk contains compounds with potent anti-tumour, antibacterial, and anti-fibrotic properties. It is also believed to have immune-enhancing properties and can be consumed as a powder, tea, or tincture. In Japan, it is known as kofuki-saru-no-koshikake.
Artist's conk is also used as a flavour enhancer in Asian cuisine, adding an umami flavour to recipes. It is non-digestible in its raw form but is considered edible when cooked. It is commonly used in hot herbal soups or fermented with lemon acid and onion.
In addition to its medicinal and culinary uses, Artist's conk is also used for art and communication. The fresh white pore surface can be etched or scratched to reveal dark brown tissue underneath, creating permanent markings once dried. This practice gives the fungus its name, as it serves as a natural canvas for artists.
Harvesting Artist's conk for medicinal or artistic purposes requires caution. A substantial percentage of the mushrooms may be spoiled by mould, which can be identified by white layers within the internal layers of annual growth. These mouldy layers should be removed before consumption as they may contain mild toxins.
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Artist's Conk has been used for art and communication throughout history
Artist's Conk, or Ganoderma applanatum, is a unique and versatile mushroom that has been used for art and communication throughout history. The name "Artist's Conk" comes from the ability of the spore-bearing surface to bruise when scratched, revealing dark brown tissue under the pores, which artists use as a medium. This practice of scratching away the white pores to create art is what gives G. applanatum its common name. Artist's Conk is a perennial fungus, one of the only mushrooms that can be found in all four seasons in the Northeast. They can be found in the majority of American and Canadian forests and suburbs, as well as in Europe, Asia, and Australia. Artist's Conk grows on hardwood trees and occasional conifers.
Artist's Conk has been used for centuries as a canvas for creating intricate works of art. The white pore surface of the conk allows for intricate etchings and drawings to be made directly on the fungus. These markings become permanent as the conk dries, resulting in a one-of-a-kind piece of art. Artists have created intricate designs, landscapes, and portraits on Artist's Conk, and the medium offers a unique challenge as the artist must work with the natural shape and texture of the fungus. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in using Artist's Conk as a canvas, with social media platforms providing a space for artists to showcase their work and inspire others to explore this unique medium.
In addition to its use in art, Artist's Conk has also been valued for its medicinal properties and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It is known as "shu-she-ling-zhi" in China, where it has long been utilized in traditional medicines. Studies have shown that G. applanatum contains compounds with potent anti-tumor, antibacterial, and anti-fibrotic properties. It is also used to treat poor blood oxygenation and altitude sickness. Artist's Conk is considered cooling in traditional Chinese medicine and is used to resolve "Heat," which can manifest physically, such as in headaches and chest pain, and emotionally, such as anger and irritability.
The versatility of Artist's Conk does not end with its medicinal and artistic uses. It is also used in perfumery, where it adds a cool, earthy note to blends. Additionally, Artist's Conk can be made into a medicinal tea or tincture, which is believed to have strong antimicrobial and immune-enhancing properties. The fungus can be harvested for medicine without killing the living organism, as only the reproductive part of the fungus is used.
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It is believed that the compounds found in the mushroom are accumulated as the tree is broken down and digested
The Artist's Conk (Ganoderma applanatum) is a fungus that grows within the wood of living and dead trees. It is a perennial species that can live for over a decade and is found in the majority of American and Canadian forests and suburbs. Artist's Conk is a polypore, meaning it releases its spores through pores rather than gills or teeth. Polypores are often woody, circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, and are typically found on trees or woody debris.
Ganoderma applanatum is parasitic and saprophytic, and forms fruiting bodies that are hard and woody in texture. The upper surface of the fruiting body is brown, while the underside is white but stains brown. These fruiting bodies are perennial and increase in size over multiple years, forming new layers of pores as they grow. The brown spores released from the underside of the fruiting body are highly concentrated, with up to 4.65 billion spores dispersed within a 24-hour period.
Artist's Conk has been used medicinally for thousands of years across Asia, Africa, and North America. It is believed that the compounds found in the mushroom are accumulated as the tree is broken down and digested. These compounds have been studied for their medicinal, phytopathological, and biotechnological properties. G. applanatum has been shown to contain compounds with potent anti-tumor, antibacterial, and anti-fibrotic properties. Methanol extracts from the fungus contain fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, which exhibit antibacterial qualities.
Additionally, G. applanatum has been found to have significant antioxidant activity. A 2012 study compared the antioxidant activity of G. applanatum with other mushrooms, and it exhibited the highest free-radical scavenging ability, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and reducing ability. This activity was attributed to the presence of alpha-glucans, an anticancer and immunomodulatory polysaccharide, and phenolic compounds. Artist's Conk is also known to contain beta-glucan polysaccharides, which are powerful immunomodulators that help improve immune function. Furthermore, G. applanatum has been used to treat respiratory issues, pain, libido, and liver and kidney-related concerns.
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The mushroom is non-digestible in its raw form but is edible when cooked
The Artist's Conk, or Ganoderma applanatum, is a fungus found in forests and suburbs across the world, particularly in North America. It is a perennial species, meaning it can be found all year round, and has a woody texture and shelf-like form. Artist's Conk is inedible in its raw form due to its woody texture, but it is edible when cooked. It is also used for its medicinal properties and as a flavour enhancer in Asian cuisine.
Artist's Conk is a type of polypore mushroom, which means it has pores instead of gills or teeth to release its spores. Polypores are typically woody, shelf-like or bracket-shaped, and grow on the trunks or branches of trees. They are often tough and sturdy, and most are non-toxic, although some can be poisonous. Polypores are used in traditional medicine and are actively studied for various industrial applications.
Artist's Conk, in particular, has been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years in Asia, Africa, and North America. It is believed to have anti-tumour, antibacterial, and anti-fibrotic properties, and is used to improve immune function. The fungus is also used as a flavour enhancer in Asian cuisine, adding an umami flavour to recipes. In addition, Artist's Conk can be used as a natural canvas for drawing and painting due to its white pore surface, which turns dark brown when scratched or etched, creating permanent lines and shading.
When consuming Artist's Conk, it is important to cook it properly to make it edible. Hot herbal soups or fermentation in lemon acid with onion are common ways of preparing this mushroom for consumption. However, it is important to note that a substantial percentage of Artist's Conk mushrooms may be mouldy, so it is necessary to split the mushroom open and check for any white layers, which indicate spoilage. These layers should be removed before consumption.
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Frequently asked questions
Artist's Conk, or Ganoderma applanatum, is a fungus found in the majority of American and Canadian forests and suburbs. It is also found in many other world continents. Artist's Conk is a perennial fungus, meaning it can be found all year round and can live well over a decade.
Artist's Conk is a woody, semicircular, brownish bracket with a white underside that bruises dark grey to black. It grows on dead wood or in the wounds of living deciduous trees. It forms fruiting bodies that are 3-30 centimetres wide, 5-50 centimetres long, and 1-10 centimetres thick.
Artist's Conk has been used for art and communication throughout history. It is also used for its health benefits, such as improving immune function and aiding digestive and hepatic function. Artist's Conk is also used as a flavour enhancer in Asian cuisine.
