Ganoderma sessile

Also known as Sessile Reishi, Sessile Bracket Fungus

Ganoderma sessile forms broad, lacquered shelf-like brackets that emerge directly from the root flares or lower trunks of broadleaf trees without a stalk. The glossy upper crust displays concentric bands of yellow, deep mahogany red, and white along the growing edge, fading to dull reddish-brown as spores mature. Acting as both a wound parasite and a wood recycler, it secretes powerful enzymes that break down structural lignin, contributing to white rot decay in living and dead hardwoods.