The Reishi has long been known for its many medicinal properties and has been used in China for a minimum of 2000 years.

Reishi mushroom. Ganoderma lucidum

There is a trade going on with this important medicinal fungi that is a decomposer of dead trees on the Pohnpei. Locally people are offered anywhere from $.50 to $1.00 per pound for the Reishi mushroom while it sells for approximately $100 in China, where it is being sent. Wielson Mauricio stated that he was offered $.50 a pound for two large sacks of the Reishi but thought that was too little. He was then offered a couple of watermelons and accepted that. He said he was unaware of the worth of the mushroom as it is not used by the people of Pohpei as it is referred to as "ghost ears".

It has also been reported by Ringlen Wolfehagen that he has seen bags of mushrooms weighing at least 50 pounds each being sold to the local Chinese restaurant, China Star, which is near the airport on Pohnpei. There they were sent on to China. At 50 cents a pound, 100 pounds would be a net of $50 to the local collector, while they can be sold for $10,000 in China.