Oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus pulmonarius )
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
- Order: Agaricales (Agaric or Lamellar)
- Family: Pleurotaceae (Oyster mushrooms)
- Genus: Pleurotus (Oyster mushroom)
- Species: Pleurotus pulmonarius (Oyster mushroom)
Other names:
Oyster mushroom whitish
Spring oyster mushroom
Beech oyster mushroom
Oyster mushroom cap: Light, whitish-gray (a darker zone extends from the point of attachment of the stem), turns yellow with age, eccentric, fan-shaped. Diameter 4-8 cm (up to 15). The pulp is grayish-white, the smell is weak, pleasant.
Oyster mushroom plates: Descending along the pedicle, rare, thick, white.
Spore powder: White.
Oyster mushroom leg: Lateral (as a rule; central is also found), up to 4 cm in length, off-white, hairy at the base. The flesh of the leg is tough, especially in mature mushrooms.
Distribution: Oyster mushroom grows from May to October on decaying wood, less often on weakened living trees. Under good conditions, it appears in large groups, growing together with its legs into bundles.
Similar species: Pulmonary oyster mushroom can be confused with oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), which has a stronger build and a darker cap. Compared to abundant oyster mushroom, it is thinner, not fleshy, with a thin drooping edge. Small crepidots (genus Crepidotus) and panelluses (including Panellus mitis) are really very small and cannot pretend to be seriously similar to oyster mushroom.
Edible: Normal edible mushroom.
Author's comments: I have absolutely nothing to say about whitish oyster mushroom (or pulmonary). Oyster mushroom and oyster mushroom. It is inconspicuous itself, does not come across too often, has no smell and taste. Normal mushroom.