Oyster Mushroom

(Pleurotus ostreatus)

Conservation Status
Oyster Mushroom
 
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

not listed

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
 
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.

 
  10/20/2021      
         
 

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.

 
       
 

Synonyms

 
     
       
 

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.

 

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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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

 
 

what is this?

 
    Oyster Mushroom      
 

Robert Briggs

 
    Oyster Mushroom   Oyster Mushroom  
 

Cheray Farm

 
 

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

 
    Oyster Mushroom      
           
 
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

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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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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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.

   
  Oyster mushrooms HD 2012 "Pleurotus ostreatus" field collecting Bigfoot Zen~Yeti
SnowWalkerPrime
 
   
 
About

Published on Nov 23, 2012

http://www.facebook.com/groups/zenyeti

Organic Oyster (Pleurotus ostreatus) mushrooms discovered by Michael on a rotting maple log in Maine. Brief description of how to key out this species. Never eat a mushroom you haven't I.D. 100%. Some species can kill. "Pleurotus means "side ear", from Greek πλευρή (pleurē), "side. Get a good field guide and study it. Be safe.

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Camcorder

 
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

Report a sighting of this fungus.

 
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  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  
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
   

 

 

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