Artist's bracket fungus is a common wood-growing medicinal fungus, mostly found on dead wood and old tree trunks.

Artist's bracket fungus (Ganoderma applanatum) is a common large wood-growing fungus belonging to the Polyporaceae family, also known as artist's conk, flat polypore, and flat-capped reishi. It has no obvious stipe, and its fruiting body attaches directly to the tree trunk; its shape is mostly semicircular or fan-shaped, and from a distance it looks like a tongue sticking out from the tree, hence its name.

The most notable feature of artist's bracket fungus is that it is perennial, and its fruiting body is lignified in texture, hard and heavy. Its surface is grayish-brown with distinct concentric rings, extending outward by one ring each year from the edge, and the cross-section reveals layer upon layer of stacked tubes. The flesh is initially white and oxidizes to brown when bruised, a trait that also makes it a natural drawing board; some people carve patterns into its surface to make pendants or decorative crafts.

In terms of growing environment, artist's bracket fungus is mostly saprophytic or weakly parasitic on dead wood, stumps, and the base of old tree trunks of broadleaf trees, and is especially common on oak, poplar, and willow species. It is distributed across most regions of China and is more active in summer and autumn. For trees, if a large number of artist's bracket fungi appear on the same tree, it often means the tree's vigor has already declined.

In terms of applications, artist's bracket fungus is a traditional medicinal fungus among the people, often sliced and boiled in water or used together with other medicinal materials, and some people also dry it in the sun for long-term storage. It should be noted that wild fungi have complex compositions, so if they are to be used medicinally, a professional should be consulted first, and they should not be taken blindly on one's own.

To distinguish artist's bracket fungus from common reishi, look at whether there is a stipe: reishi mostly has a lateral stipe, while artist's bracket fungus has no stipe and lies flat directly against the substrate. When selecting or appreciating it, those with a complete individual, clear rings, and no mold or insect damage are considered best.