Ganoderma is a genus of polypores which grow on wood. They can be differentiated from other polypores because they've a double walled basidiospore. The genus is divided into two sections - Section Ganoderma has a shiny cap surface (like Ganoderma lucidum) and Elfvingia has a dull cap surface, like Ganoderma applanatum. The name Ganoderma is derived from the Greek ganos/γανος "brightness, sheen", hence "shining" and derma/δερμ^… (More on Ganoderma)