A guide I have points out that young specimens of reishi have cream-white some what tender flesh. As they grow the flesh becomes brown and hardens up. I made it a point to pick a young specimen. We plan on doing a hot water extraction/tea this weekend. The smell is so... well medicinal. My animals are suspiciously attracted to it.
Even if it is not reishi(im almost 100% sure), the 1 possibile 'look alike' has supposedly the same general medicinal value.
Unfortunately my camera battery died soon after the discovery. There was a nice specimen that had fused with a twig, and a blade of grass that was still alive/growing. The older mushrooms had more of the traditional kidney shaped fruit.
Only thing left for me to do is identify the old tree stump of which it grows, and sample it.
On another note, this weekend I should have nice photos of a VERY rare (unfortunately dried) similar fungus
Phellinus linteus.