Oyster Mushroom

(Pleurotus ostreatus)

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

not listed

Minnesota

not listed

 
Oyster Mushroom
 
Description

Oyster Mushroom is a large, fleshy, bracket (shelf-like) fungus. It is usually saprobic, on decaying stumps and logs, but is sometimes parasitic, on the sides of injured trees.

This mushroom is found usually on hardwoods, especially elm, cottonwood, alder, and oak. It is rarely found on conifers. It usually appears as overlapping shelves on a log or stump, sometimes on a live tree. It enters the tree through a wound and infects the wood causing white rot. It first appears in the fall after a heavy rain.

There is usually no stalk unless it is growing on top of a log. If there is a stalk, it is short, ¼ to 1½ long, thick, and off-center or even laterally attached. If growing on top of a log the stalk may be centrally attached.

The cap is oyster-shaped or fan-shaped and 1½ to 8 in diameter. When young it is convex and the margin is rolled inward. As it matures it becomes flat or occasionally funnel shaped. The upper surface is smooth and variable in color; white to gray, grayish-brown, or tan, sometimes dark brown. When wet it is somewhat slippery or greasy but not slimy or sticky. The margins are often wavy or lobed. The flesh is thick, white, and firm but soft. It is edible and has a mild odor and taste.

There is no universal veil.

The gills are broad, close to well-spaced, and run down the stalk if there is one (decurrent). They are white or tinged gray, becoming tinged yellow on older specimens.

The spore print is whitish, pale lilac, or gray.

 

Similar Species

 
Habitat and Hosts

Hardwoods, especially elm, cottonwood, alder, and oak. Usually on a stump or log.

Ecology

Season

Fall through early spring

Distribution

Distribution Map

 

Sources

4, 7, 24, 26, 29, 30, 77.

5/29/2024    
     

Occurrence

Common and widespread

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Fungi (fungi)

Subkingdom

Dikarya

Phylum

Basidiomycota (club fungi)

Subphylum

Agaricomycotina (jelly fungi, yeasts, and mushrooms)

Class

Agaricomycetes (mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs, and allies)

Subclass

Agaricomycetidae

Order

Agaricales (common gilled mushrooms and allies)

Suborder

Pleurotineae

Family

Pleurotaceae

Genus

Pleurotus (oyster mushrooms)

   

The genus Pleurotus was formerly placed in the family Tricholomataceae. Molecular phylogenetic analysis resulted in several new families, including Pleurotaceae, being separated from Tricholomataceae by 2006.

   

Subordinate Taxa

 

   

Synonyms

Agaricus ostreatus

Crepidopus ostreatus

Pleuropus ostreatus

Clitocybe ostreata

Dendrosarcus ostreatus

Pleurotus peregrinus

Pleurotus pulmonarius sensu auct.

   

Common Names

Grey Oyster Mushroom

Oyster Mushroom

Tree Oyster Mushroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Saprobic

A term often used for saprotrophic fungi. Referring to fungi that obtain their nutrients from decayed organic matter.

 

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Brad Creager

Oyster Mushroom   Oyster Mushroom

Pleurotus Ostreatus?

Took these photos this morning near Prior Lake, MN. Wondering if they are edible, oyster mushrooms?

 

 

     
Oyster Mushroom  

 

Paul

Oyster Mushroom  

Oyster Mushroom

     
Oyster Mushroom  

Oyster Mushroom

Valerie Thomas

It's growing in my backyard on a berm that is probably has construction materials and tree remnants under the sod from when the house was built in 1997. If someone would like to "harvest" it, contact me at vjthomas66@gmail.com.

  Oyster Mushroom
     
Oyster Mushroom   Oyster Mushroom

Patrick

Oyster Mushroom  

 

what is this?  

 

Robert Briggs

Oyster Mushroom   Oyster Mushroom

Cheray Farm

Oyster Mushroom  

 

It is growing out of a dead elm or oak. Looks like an oyster.  

 

MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
Oyster Mushroom   Oyster Mushroom
     
Oyster Mushroom    

 

Camera

Slideshows

Oyster Mushrooms
Andree Reno Sanborn

Oyster Mushrooms
About

Pleurotus ostreatus

very luscious (so I've been told)

 

slideshow

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Other Videos

Oyster Mushroom Hunting, Foraging, Identification : GardenFork.TV
GardenFork

About

Published on Dec 2, 2012

Mushroom Identification, Foraging, and Hunting for mushrooms how-to video. Oyster mushrooms are common and edible, but be sure you know how to identify mushrooms. Watch all our mushroom hunting vids here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elfssVLI2uY&list=PLK9GxIRaLC5Vt-O2sOjXpoR3dLZzPHwHC

Start learning mushroom identification here.
Mushroom Identification Books: http://amzn.to/XovLmW

Mushroom Identification Books:
Audubon Guide to Mushrooms: http://amzn.to/XovLmW
Mushrooms Demystified: http://amzn.to/XowdS2

Watch our Mushroom Cooking Video: http://youtu.be/Xz1Fz2f5KxM

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More great DIY, Cooking, Gardening, Home Improvement, Urban Homesteading videos and info on our site: http://GardenFork.TV

Produced by GardenFork Media LLC ©2014 all rights reserved All embeds must live link to GardenFork.TV. No Editorial Excerpts without permission, Violators agree to pay $5,000 per second + $10 per view + all collections & lawyers fees Music: Happy Hour, Composed by Dale Herr (ASCAP) , Toast Factory Publishing (ASCAP) Recording Licensed from the UniqueTracks Production Music Library Inc.

 

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Visitor Sightings
 

Report a sighting of this fungus.

 

This button not working for you?
Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
Be sure to include a location.

Brad Creager
7/22/2024

Location: Prior Lake, MN

Took these photos this morning near Prior Lake, MN. Wondering if they are edible, oyster mushrooms?

Oyster Mushroom
   

John Valo
7/23/2024

MinnesotaSeasons.com cannot give advice on the edibility of mushrooms. We only repeat what is stated in the literature. Please consult an expert before consuming wild mushrooms.

Paul
4/26/2024

Location: St. Cloud, MN

Oyster Mushroom
Mark Volesky
10/4/2022

Location:  West Becker County

Difficult to identify the old dead tree.  It is loaded with them

Jeanne
4/21/2022

Location: Mower County, SE Minnesota on Iowa border

Found 4.21.22 on a deadfall old elm tree that had been dead for many years. Last summer July 2021 I found my first oysters on this tree that had 8” caps. The elm had produced several oysters from mid summer to late fall 2021, until it fell from a strong wind in late November.

Apricity Apricity
Fall 2021

Location: Martin County, Fairmont, MN

Valerie Thomas
10/10/2018

Location: Burnsville MN

It's growing in my backyard on a berm that is probably has construction materials and tree remnants under the sod from when the house was built in 1997. If someone would like to "harvest" it, contact me at vjthomas66@gmail.com.

Oyster Mushroom
Patrick
5/22/2018

Location: Coon Rapids MN

what is this?

Oyster Mushroom
Robert Briggs
11/5/2016

Location: Spring Lake Park Reserve

Oyster Mushroom
Cheray Farm
8/18/2016

Location: Albany MN

It is growing out of a dead elm or oak. Looks like an oyster.

Oyster Mushroom
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