Ganoderma polypore

Description:

Ganoderma fungi can be either annuals or perennials and are fairly large, with a generally tough bracketlike pileus (cap) that can reach more than 60 cm in diameter. They grow from the base of tree trunks or on exposed roots, and, while many species have a rudimentary stipe (stalk) to support the pileus, some species are sessile and have a pileus attached directly to the tree. The pileus can be white, yellow, brown, red, or deep purple, often with a light-coloured border, though coloration patterns within species can vary depending on age and environmental conditions. Some species have a shiny, varnished appearance.

Habitat:

Ganoderma are widely distributed, shelflike or knoblike fungi that feed either as saprobes on dead wood or as parasites on the live wood of hardwood trees, conifers, or palms. While some species are host-specific, most have a fairly broad range of hosts, and a number are economically significant plant pathogens.

Notes:

Found on fallen hemlock tree. Possibly Ganoderma lucidum or Ganoderma tsugae. Spotted in Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, Vancouver island, Canada. (sources: see reference)