Oyster Mushroom
Habitat: Growing on wood both upright and logs
Cap: white, cream, pale pink, to dark grey. Edge may curl inward.
Cap: Flat, concave, and convex
Underside: Pale gills, often running down stem (decurrent)
Stem: off-center or possibly non existent
Oyster mushrooms are one of the most commonly foraged mushrooms in the Pacific Northwest. Their large fruit bodies, peculiar appearance, and long growing season make them a favorite for many including beginners.
What to look for
- Pale, pinkish, to dark brown in color
- Growing typically on hardwoods like alder, cottonwood, and aspen in our region
- Growing shelflike on wood
- Decurrent gills
- Short, off-center, or nonexistent stem
- Light colored gills when young
Other noteworthy characteristics
- White, faintly yellowish, or lilac colored spores
- May smell slightly sweet or of anise or black licorice
Velvet-footed Tap (Tapinella atrotomentosa)
- Found on conifer wood
- Velvety base of stipe
- Stipe is more prominent than that of most oysters
PNW Oyster Species
Oyster
Pleurotus ostreatus
Summer Oyster
Pleurotus pulminarius
Aspen Oyster
Pleurotus populinus
Veiled Oyster
Pleurotus dryinus
Similar to Oyster
Velvet-Footed Tap
Tapinella atrotomentosa
Angel Wings
Pleurocybella porrigens
Late Oyster
Sarcomyxa serotina
Lilac Oysterling
Panus conchotus
photo credit CC-BY LJ Moore-McClelland
Additional Reading
Mushroom Expert
Danny Miller’s Pictorial Key
References:
Kuo, M. (2017, December). Pleurotus ostreatus. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/pleurotus_ostreatus.html