Bracket fungi (Ganoderma mastoporum)
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Polyporales
Family: Ganodermataceae
Genus: Ganoderma
Species: G. mastoporum
Binomial name: Ganoderma mastoporum
Ganoderma genus are characterized by basidiocarps that are large, perennial, woody brackets, also called "conks". They are lignicolous, leathery, and either with or without a stem. The fruit bodies typically grow in a fanlike or hooflike form on the trunks of living or dead trees.Their hymenium (fertile layer) is in vertical pores on the underside of the caps. Several species of Ganoderma have been used in traditional Asian medicines for thousands of years. Collectively, the Ganoderma are being investigated for a variety of potential therapeutic benefits.
Ganoderma mastoporum is a wood-decaying fungi and can grow on both coniferous and hardwood species. They have enzymes that allow them to break down wood components such as lignin and cellulose which causes white heart rot .
Ganoderma mastoporum fruiting bodies This one is growing high up on the trunk of a beech tree planted by Keith Adams 1952 Position Lat 39 3'36.782'S Long 174 5'40.108 Datum WGS 84 
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