Habitat and Geography

Ganoderma lucidum is seen throughout the world in temperate and subtropical locations including North and South America, Europe, and Asia.  It is commonly seen to the East of the Rocky Mountains, particularly in the Gulf Coast regions.  Its range extends as far north as Canada and south into Argentina.

It was in Asia were G. lucidum originally gained its popularity for its medicinal uses.  It can be dated in Chinese history thousands of years, as far back as the Period of Warring States(475-221BCE).  Today, wild G. lucidum is a very rare fine in China and Japan, and if one is found it most likely is somewhere along the coastal regions of China.  Often times conditions aren't right for great harvest of this mushroom.  Combined with this fact and the increased demand for this precious product, many attempts have been made to cultivate this mushroom.

Attempts to cultivate this mushroom have proven quite effective.  Three main methods exist today.  They include wood log cultivation, which is the most popular to date, pot or bottle cultivation, and tank cultivation.  For wood log cultivation, hardwood logs or chips are placed in warm, moist environment that are suitable for growth. The spores are then released onto them where they can start to germinate.  This can be done in both lab and relaxed settings.  The full growth cycle can take up to one year but it is seen as producing a superior product.  Growth can also be done using wood chips and chemicals in vacuum packing.  This yields a much faster harvest time, around two months, but is seen as producing a lower quality product.

Now continue to check out some of the Adaptations that allow this fungus to grow

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