Types of Ganoderma

Countless individuals in China and the West have studied Ganoderma over the years, and they have come up with different types of classification schemes. Ancient Chinese records identify several different varieties of Ganoderma based on their flesh and external form. In the West, Ganoderma belongs to the genus Ganoderma under Alexopolus' 1979 classification of the fungi, and is a member of the kingdom Myceteae, phylum Amastigomycota, class Basidiomycetes, order Aphyllophorales, and family Polyporaceae. The genus Ganoderma was established as early as 1881 by the Finnish botanist Karsten on the basis of its shiny epidermis, and G. lucidum (W. Cust.: Fr.) Karst. was taken as the representative species for the genus. Later the definition of the Ganoderma was further refined by Donk, Murrill, Furtado, and Steyaert, etc., who felt that the distinguishing characteristic of the Ganoderma was a basidiospore with a thin, two-layer wall. The basidiospore is always egg-shaped in the Ganoderma, and the walls of cells in the outer layer are relatively thin and transparent. In contrast, the walls of cells in the inner layer are thicker, yellowish-brown in color, and nodular in shape. This indicates that the unifying key feature of the Ganoderma is a basidiospore that is "egg-shaped," "yellowish-brown," and has "two-layer cell walls." Members of the Ganoderma are no longer identified by their external appearance or color.

According to the classification scheme of the contemporary Chinese Ganoderma specialist Zhao Jiding, who spent nearly 50 years working in this area, Ganoderma can be classified as the following six types:

Red Ganoderma

"Also known as cinnabar Ganoderma, red Ganoderma is found on Mt. Huo. In flavor it is bitter, neutral, and nontoxic. It is indicated for thoracic oppression, and is beneficial for the qi of the heart..." Ordinary Ganoderma [G. lucidum (W.curt.: Fr.) Karst.] is the representative species of this type, whose main characteristics include a kidney-shaped cap, a semicircular or nearly circular form, a reddish-brown color, a varnish-like luster, and a stalk that is the same color or darker than the cap. 

Violet Ganoderma

 "Also known as wood Ganoderma, violet Ganoderma is sweetish, warm, and nontoxic. It is indicated for deafness, assists the joints, and is beneficial for the essential qi. It strengthens the bones and muscles, improves the complexion, cures consumptive disease, and relieves piles." The main characteristics of violet Ganoderma include a brown, violet-brown, or nearly black cap, evenly brown flesh, and a basidiospore larger than that of ordinary red Ganoderma. Chinese violet Ganoderma [G. sinense Zhao, Xu, and Zhang] is the representative species of this type.

Yellow Ganoderma

"Also known as gold Ganoderma, yellow Ganoderma is sweetish, neutral, and nontoxic. It is indicated for the five disorders of the heart and bowels, is beneficial to the spleen qi, and calms the spirit." Ge Hong(a famous  medicine scientist in ancient China) describes yellow Ganoderma thus in the Bao Puzi (a dispensatory written by Ge Hong): "Ganoderma are classified as red, white, black, green, and yellow types. The yellow appears like purple gold; large specimens may weigh ten or more pounds, while small specimens typically weigh three or four pounds." It is thought that one kind of yellow Ganoderma may be the sulfur fungi Laetiporus Sulphureus (Bull.: Fr.) Murr. The cap of this fungus is full of juice when fresh, and fresh specimens may weigh several kilograms.

White Ganoderma

"Also known as jade Ganoderma, white Ganoderma is acrid, neutral, and nontoxic. It is indicated for coughing and reversal of the upper qi. It is beneficial to the lung qi, decongests the mouth and nose, strengthens the will, and calms the soul." The Bao Puzi describes white Ganoderma as "cut-off fat," which suggests that Fomitopsis officinalis (Vill.: Fr.) Bond. and Sing is of this type. This type of Ganoderma has white flesh and is shaped like a horse's hoof. Large specimens may weigh several kilograms, and it grows on pines and other conifers.

Black Ganoderma

"Also known as Xuan Ganoderma, black Ganoderma is salty, neutral, and nontoxic. It is indicated for anuria, assists the aqueous vessels, and is beneficial to the kidney qi. It frees the nine orifices and sharpens the wits." Records on old paintings suggest that black Ganoderma grows in the shade of deep mountain valleys, has a black cap with a red interior, grows on a black stem, and is salty and bitter in flavor. These records indicate that black Ganoderma may possibly be Amauroderma rugosum (Bl. and Nees) Tarrend and Polyporus melanopus Fr., both of which possess a black cap and stalk.

Green Ganoderma

"Also known as Dragon Ganoderma, green Ganoderma is acidic, neutral, and nontoxic. It is indicated for clarifying the eyes, strengthens the liver qi, and calms the soul and essential." Bao Puzi states: "Green Ganoderma resembles the feathers of the kingfisher." It is thought that Coriolus versicolar (L.: Fr.) Quel. is a representative form of green Ganoderma. This type of Ganoderma has a tough cap and a surface covered with short hairs, which give it a wide range of color variations. 

In addition, ancient Chinese records also analyze the distribution of these six types of Ganoderma. According to these texts, red Ganoderma, violet Ganoderma, and black Ganoderma are found on Mt. Heng, Mt. Gaosha, and Mt. Chang, all of which are drained by tributaries of the Yangtze River. In contrast, yellow Ganoderma, white Ganoderma, and green Ganoderma are found on Mt. Song, Mt. Hua, and Mt. Tai, all of which are drained by tributaries of the Yellow River. It can be known from this that the ecological habits and geographical distribution of fungi are intimately connected.

The six kinds of Ganoderma are not unitary types, but are rather six groups. Taking red Ganoderma as an example, the most common species are G. lucidum and G. tsugae. The most common forms of violet Ganoderma are G. neojaponicum and G. sinense. Most research on the cultivation, pharmacology, and clinical use of Ganoderma has focused on these two types. In other words, apart from red Ganoderma and violet Ganoderma, to date little formal work has been published on the classification and pharmacology of yellow, white, green, or black Ganoderma.