Oyster mushroom
Pleurotus ostreatus
A species of Oysters. Also known as Pearl oyster.
Oyster mushrooms are found in the wild, but are also commercially grown for retail in grocery stores. Home cultivation is also an option. They thrive on substrates like coffee grounds and used grains, and have even been ingeniously repurposed into an eco-friendly alternative to Styrofoam. Due to the existence of several poisonous look-alike species, purchasing these mushrooms from a store is the safest approach.
In This Article
Attributes of Oyster mushroom
Cap Diameter
3 - 15 cm
Height
5 - 20 cm
Cap
Cap 3 - 15 cm across; convex to flat; bluish gray to dark gray-brown; surface smooth
Cap Shape
Convex, Flat, Depressed
Cap Surfaces
Smooth, Slimy or slightly sticky
Gills
Decurrent; close; whitish
Gill Attachment
Decurrent
Stem
Stem 1 - 7 cm long, 1 - 3 cm thick; whitish; tough; hairy to velvety
Stem Shapes
Club Shaped
Stem Surfaces
Smooth to slightly fibrous
Flesh
Thick; white; unchanging
Ring
Ringless
Spore Print Color
Whitish, pale lilac, pale lilac-grey
Odor
Mild, pleasant, somewhat mushroomy.
Body Color
BrownGrayWhite
Flesh Bruises
The flesh or milk does not discolor when bruised or cut.
Growth Form
Gregarious, Clustered
Nutrient Gathering
Saprophytic
Substrate
Dead Woods, Wood of Living Trees
You can find Oyster mushroom by these plants
Tanoak, Coast live oak, Willows, European beech
Occurence Habitats
Deciduous Woodland, Coniferous Woodland
Species Status
Widely distributed
Endangered Species
No
Scientific Classification of Oyster mushroom
Phylum
Club fungi
Class
Mushroom-forming fungi
Order
Gilled fungi
Family
The tree mushroom family
Genus
Oysters
Toxicity and Edibility of Oyster mushroom
Is Oyster mushroom Toxic?
Toxicity information is not available for this mushroom. Always consult with an expert before consuming any wild mushrooms.
