One of the most common questions we get is whether our Native Australian Reishi (Ganoderma steyaertanum) is the same as the famous reishi you read about online (Ganoderma lucidum). The short answer is that they are close relatives in the same medicinal genus, but they are not identical. Here is an honest breakdown.
They belong to the same family
Both are true Ganoderma species, the group of woody bracket fungi long valued in traditional medicine. Ganoderma lucidum, known as reishi or lingzhi, has been used in Eastern medicine for over 2,000 years and is the most studied species in the world.
Ganoderma steyaertanum is a distinct species native to Australia, first formally described from Queensland and Indonesian material. In the field it has often been mistaken for G. lucidum, but it is genetically its own species.
Why we grow the native species
True Ganoderma lucidum is not permitted for import or sale in Australia. Ganoderma steyaertanum is the closest legal native alternative, which is why it is the reishi you will find grown here.
What the science says
Most published research is on G. lucidum, and there is very little research specific to the Australian natives. That said, the compound story is encouraging.
A 2024 study analysed 22 Australian Ganoderma specimens and confirmed, for the first time, that Australian Ganoderma species contain medicinal triterpenoids including ganoderic acid A, along with beta glucans (ranging from 19.5 to 43.5% by weight) and measurable antioxidant activity. In other words, the family resemblance is genuine and chemical, not just visual.
Shiny (laccate) versus matte
Within the Ganoderma genus, species fall broadly into two camps: laccate (shiny, varnished caps) and matte (dull, non glossy caps). The shiny laccate species, which include G. lucidum and our native G. steyaertanum, tend to have thicker flesh enriched in ganoderic and lucidenic acids, the compounds most associated with reishi. Matte species carry a wider spread of different triterpenoids such as elfvingic, applanoxidic and ganoderenic acid types, so their chemistry is more varied but further from the classic reishi profile. Our Native Australian Reishi is a laccate, shiny capped species, which places it chemically closer to true reishi than the matte types do.
A quick note on appearance: the shine is clearest when the fruiting body is young and fresh, with a white velvety growing edge. The surface hardens and can dull as it matures, which is normal for laccate Ganoderma and does not change its classification.
The key differences
| Ganoderma lucidum (True Reishi) | Ganoderma steyaertanum (Native Australian Reishi) | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Asia and Europe | Native to Australia (Queensland) |
| Legal status in AU | Not permitted for import or sale | Legal to grow and sell, although restricted in Western Australia. |
| Research volume | Extensive, thousands of studies | Very limited, species specific data is scarce |
| Key compounds | Rich in ganoderic and lucidenic acids | Contains ganoderic acids and beta glucans, with a broader spread of related triterpenoids |
| Traditional use | Over 2,000 years in Eastern medicine | Limited documented traditional use |
The honest summary
Ganoderma steyaertanum is a true Ganoderma with confirmed ganoderic acid content and comparable beta glucan levels. It is the closest legal native option to true reishi in Australia. It is not the same mushroom as G. lucidum and does not carry the same depth of clinical research, so we do not claim it delivers the same effects. What we can say is that it belongs to the same medicinal lineage and shares its signature compound class.
Director of Rootlab
