Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonaryius)
- Division: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae (Agaricomycetes)
- Order: Agaricales (Agaric or Lamellar)
- Family: Pleurotaceae (Voshenkovye)
- Genus: Pleurotus (Oyster mushroom)
- Type: Pleurotus pulmonarius (Pulmonary oyster mushroom)
Cap of oyster mushroom: 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.
Plates of oyster mushroom: Descending along the stem, sparse, thick, white.
Spore powder: White.
Leg of oyster mushroom: Lateral (as a rule; central also occurs), up to 4 cm in length, off-white, hairy at the base. The flesh of the leg is tough, especially in mature mushrooms.
Spread: Oyster mushroom grows from May to October on rotting wood, less often on live, weakened trees. Under good conditions, it appears in large groups, growing together with legs in bunches.
Similar species: Pulmonary oyster mushroom can be confused with oyster oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), which is distinguished by its stronger build and darker cap color. Compared to the abundant oyster mushroom, it is thinner, not fleshy, with a thin lowered edge. Small crepidots (genus Crepidotus) and panellus (including Panellus mitis) are indeed very small and cannot claim a serious resemblance to oyster mushroom.
Edibility: normal edible mushroom.