Artist's bracketGanoderma applanatum

Artist's bracket (Ganoderma applanatum, known in English as "artist's conk" or "artist's bracket") is one of the most recognizable perennial polypores in Europe, with a distinctive large (10-50 cm) flat fruiting body attached sideways to the trunk. The Latin epithet applanatum means "flattened" — a perfect description of its shape. The crust of the fruiting body is brownish gray, with clear concentric zones, very hard, like bark. The underside is whitish cream, finely pored, and when pressed or scratched it turns distinctly dark — hence the name "artist's bracket" (you can draw pictures on the underside that last for years).

Inedible — the flesh is very tough, corky-fibrous and leathery, like wood. It has no culinary value. Perennial — a single fruiting body lives 5-30 years, adding a new concentric zone on the upper surface every year (like tree rings). This lets you tell the mushroom's age.

Uses in medicine and tradition: In traditional Chinese medicine it goes by the name "Líng Zhī" (壁灵芝) and has been used for millennia as a tonic (although the true "Líng Zhī" is Ganoderma lucidum, the lacquered species) Polysaccharides of G. applanatum are being studied for immunomodulating and antitumor activity "Artist's bracket" — you can etch pictures into the underside with a needle or simply scratch them — the lines darken and last for years A parasitic fungus — it slowly kills weakened broadleaf trees, especially beeches and oaks

Key features of Ganoderma applanatum: Large flat fruiting body (10-50 cm, sometimes 70+) on the trunks of broadleaf trees Attached sideways to the substrate, with no distinct stem Hard, corky, brownish gray upper surface with concentric zones Whitish cream underside, darkens when pressed — a key diagnostic feature Perennial (5-30 years) Spore print rusty brown, and the fruiting bodies are sometimes dusted with rusty spores

The main thing is to recognize it as a sign of weakened old trees. People sometimes cut it into little shelves or souvenirs (since it lasts so long).

In Ukraine, Ganoderma applanatum is common in broadleaf and mixed forests: the Carpathians, Prykarpattia, Polissia, the forest-steppe and the steppe (in shelterbelts). Year-round — the fruiting body lives for years.