Artist Conk (ganoderma applanatum) is a tree-growing mushroom present year round on Vashon. Several cultures, most famously the Japanese, have used this mushroom as canvas for drawing for centuries. It is not poisonous, but its woody texture keeps it from being a commonly foraged mushroom for eating. However, due to its intense mushroom flavor, it is often boiled in water to extract the flavor for cooking and it is a common ingredient in traditional Chinese medicinal products.
An artists work done on a large slice of an Artist Conk mushroom.
