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Species map · Ganoderma lucidum

Reishi map of Turkey: where and when it grows

Our map holds 60 verified records of the reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) from 11 provinces of Turkey. Most come from İstanbul, Bolu, Tekirdağ and Manisa; records peak in February, September and October.

records
60
provinces
11
regions
5
latest record
Oct 2026

How to identify the reishi

Points are GBIF and iNaturalist records, each linking to its own record. Locations of protected species are rounded. Open on the main map →

Records by province

  • Marmara 46
  • Black Sea 9
  • Aegean 2
  • Central Anatolia 2
  • Mediterranean 1

Linked provinces have their own page with every species recorded there. Record density also reflects where observers work.

Which months?

Records by month
Jan3Feb6Mar1AprMay4Jun6Jul4Aug4Sep11Oct14Nov3Dec4

This page covers only where and when the species is recorded in Turkey. For identification and edibility, see the species page. Built from research-grade, geo-referenced GBIF and iNaturalist records, refreshed at the start of every month.

Poisonous look-alikes of the reishi

Records by region: Marmara 46; Black Sea 9; Aegean 2; Central Anatolia 2; Mediterranean 1. Most records come from İstanbul, Bolu, Tekirdağ, Manisa, Ankara, Sakarya, Bursa and Samsun.

Records peak in February, September and October; about 46% of dated records fall in September–November and 8% in March–May.

Reishi is an annual bracket that releases its spores in summer and autumn, and its tough fruit body persists for months. In Turkey, GBIF records are spread across almost every month.

Reishi lives as a parasite at the base of old oaks and maples, or as a decomposer on their stumps. In cultivation it is grown on hardwood sawdust and logs.

Resinous bracket (Ganoderma resinaceum, inedible): Stemless, with a rounder margin and smaller pores.

Asian lingzhi (Ganoderma sichuanense, inedible): Often the species actually used in traditional Asian practice; hard to tell apart by eye and separated only by DNA.

Artist's bracket (Ganoderma applanatum, inedible): Its upper surface is dull grey-brown rather than lacquered, often dusted with cocoa-coloured spores; it has no stem and forms a flat shelf that grows for years. Its white underside bruises brown when scratched.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the reishi grow in Turkey?

Most records come from İstanbul, Bolu, Tekirdağ, Manisa and Ankara.

When does the reishi fruit in Turkey?

Records peak in February, September and October.

Which province has the most reishi records?

İstanbul, followed by Bolu, Tekirdağ and Manisa. The order also reflects where observers are active.

What habitat does the reishi prefer?

Reishi lives as a parasite at the base of old oaks and maples, or as a decomposer on their stumps. In cultivation it is grown on hardwood sawdust and logs.

Can I pick mushrooms where they are recorded?

A record is not a permit. Commercial picking in state forests needs a permit; picking in national parks is prohibited.

How current is this map?

Records are re-fetched from GBIF and iNaturalist at the start of every month and this page updates automatically.

What should I do in case of mushroom poisoning?

Call 112 at once; Turkey's poison centre is 114.

Sources

  1. 6831 sayılı Orman Kanunu (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
  2. 2873 sayılı Millî Parklar Kanunu, md. 14 (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
  3. GBIF ve iNaturalist: Türkiye gözlem kayıtları (sitemizin haritası) gbif.org
All sources (6)
  1. Wikipedia (EN): Ganoderma lucidum en.wikipedia.org
  2. Vikipedi (TR): Ganoderma lucidum tr.wikipedia.org
  3. First Nature: Ganoderma lucidum first-nature.com

Data sources and licences

Observations from GBIF.org (human observations and herbarium specimens; records flagged with geospatial issues excluded) and iNaturalist research-grade records, retrieved 2 November 2026. Macrofungi only (Agaricomycetes, Pezizomycetes), named to species. Every point links to its own record, with the recorder and licence (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-NC).

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Province centres: Wikidata. Region comes from the record's GADM province, or the nearest province centre when missing. For protected species (iNaturalist "threatened" or IUCN VU/EN/CR) locations are rounded to ~10 km; locations obscured by iNaturalist are marked "approximate".

An observation shows that a mushroom was seen there on that day, not that it is there now or that it may be picked. Counts reflect how many people record fungi in an area more than how common a species is.

Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial teamReport a correction