Content
Ganoderma southern is a typical representative of the polypore family. In total, the genus to which this mushroom belongs, there are about 80 of its closely related species. They differ from each other mainly not in appearance, but in the area of distribution. Like all tinder fungi, southern ganoderma has a different appearance, depending on the substrate on which it grows.
What does ganoderma southern look like
The fruiting body of the fungus is of the cap type. Their sizes can be very large. The diameter of the southern ganoderma cap reaches 35-40 cm, and its thickness reaches 13 cm.
The shape of the fruit body is flat, slightly elongated. The seated cap grows to a solid base with its wide side.
The surface of the mushroom is even, but small furrows may be located on it.
The colors of the caps are very diverse: brown, gray, black, etc. Often its surface is covered with a layer of spores, from which the color of the fruiting body can turn brown.
The pulp of the mushroom is dark red. The porous hymenophore is white.
Where and how it grows
It prefers to grow in areas with a warm climate (hence the name), but it is common to the central and northwestern regions of Russia. Recorded cases of detection of southern ganoderma in the east of the Leningrad region.
The fungus grows mainly on deadwood or stumps, but sometimes it also occurs on living deciduous trees
When this species appears on plants, it provokes "white rot" in the latter. But this is not the classic sclerotinosis caused by marsupials. The mycelium of the tinder fungus is of the corresponding color, therefore, the affected leaves and shoots have similar symptoms.
Oak, poplar or linden can become potential targets of infection. This species is a perennial. It exists in one place until it completely absorbs the available substrate.
It is recommended to dispose of plants located in cultivated areas in order to avoid further spread of the fungus.
Is the mushroom edible or not
Ganoderma southern is an inedible species. The main reason it shouldn't be eaten is because of the very hard pulp found in most polypores.
Doubles and their differences
All representatives of the genus to which the southern Ganoderma belongs are very similar to each other. At first glance, the differences between the species are not striking, but upon close examination, there are several differences in appearance, by which you can easily determine the species.
The maximum degree of similarity of the species under consideration is observed with flat ganoderma (another name is artist's mushroom or flattened tinder fungus). There are differences in appearance and internal structure. The former include the large size of the flat tinder fungus (up to 50 cm in diameter) and its glossy shine. In addition, the top of the cap is more uniform in color.
The surface of the flattened tinder fungus has a single color
Similar to southern ganoderma, flat is also inedible and also causes rot in plants. But the color of her mycelium will not be white, but yellowish. Another important difference is the internal structure of the spores and the structure of the cuticle.
Conclusion
Ganoderma southern is a common representative of perennial tinder fungi. It is a typical decomposition of dead wood and dead wood. In some cases, it leads a parasitic life in trees, slowly but systematically eating the host's organism. It is impossible to cure the plant, it should be destroyed as soon as possible in order to avoid the spread of infection. The southern tinder fungus is inedible due to its high hardness.
