Hericium erinaceus

This  is  an  edible  mushroom  occurring  widely  in Japan  and  China,  growing  on standing  and  decayed  broadleaf  trees such  as  oak, walnut  and beech.  It  can  also cause  heart  rot in  standing  trees.   Originally  collected  from  the wild, it  is  now extensively  grown artificially  on logs  and sawdust  mixtures making  this  mushroom available all  the year  round.  It  is  known in  the  West as  the hedgehog  or  monkey head  fungus and in  China as  Shishigashida  because the  fruiting  body  looks like the head of  a lion.

grifola frondosa

 Grifola  frondosa This  fungus forms  large fan-shaped mushroom  heads  that  often fuse  together in  masses at  the base  or  on the roots  of  broadleaf  trees.   It can invade the core  of the tree as  a  parasite  causing  extensive decay.  It is  often called ‘Hen of  the  Woods’ or  ‘Sheep’s Head’ while  it is more  often  called  in  Japan, Maitake,  which  mean   ‘dancing  nymph’.

ganoderma lucidum and ganoderma tsugae

Ganoderma  lucidum and Ganoderma tsugae:  G. lucidum  and  related  species  have the longest historical  usage  for  medicinal purposes, dating  back  at least  four millennia (Zhao  and  Zeuny,  1994).  In Japan it is called  Reishi  or  Mannetake  (10,000 year  mushroom)  and in  China and Korea it  is variously  called  Ling  Chu,  Ling Chih  and  Ling  Zhi   (Mushroom  of  Immortality).  It is the  mushroom  most  depicted in  ancient Japanese, Korean  and Chinese Art and  has been extensively  depicted in  Chinese royal  tapestries.  Reishi  is  also  widely  used in the Orient as  a talisman to  protect a  person or  home against  evil.   The  fungus grows in  many  parts of  the world and in  Japan is  to  be  found  mainly  on  old  plum  trees.  Originally, rare  and  expensive it  can  now  be  artificially  cultivated, which makes it more  accessible  and affordable.