Pleurotus ostreatus

Oyster Mushroom

Some of the authors of mushroom guides wonder why they call these Oyster mushrooms.
Is it the shape they wonder? Or is it the texture? It's been said they have an oyster shape and some indeed do, but many of them don't. My own opinion is that it is due to the way the small pieces feel and look when washed/wet ( slippery ) and because during handling you will smell a hint of fishiness on your hands.
Not to worry though, the smell is gone upon cooking.

Wet weather in the spring and fall will bring out the Oysters. You'll find them on dead or dying trees, either standing or fallen.

Here's a group growing on a standing but dead Tulip Poplar. They stretched on up the tree about twenty some feet.

Often, when these start to appear, you will find so many that you will want to limit yourself on such bounty or you will rue having picked them all because of all that preparation you will face when you get them home.
Here is a group up close. The Oysters found in the fall generally have a light tan or light gray color. Those in the spring more on the white side.

Here is a view of the same group looking up from below. You will notice the decurrent gills and the lateral stalk. The cap is more or less a continuation and expansion of the stalk so that as the stalk grows out from the tree the cap just keeps getting bigger. You can actually find itty-bitty Oysters that are practically nothing but stalk and gills, at least until it gets bigger.

Oyster's grow in overlapping shelves, whether growing on a downed tree or upright. Occasionally you may find one growing off to the side all by itself.

These mushrooms can get to be good sized. Here is another group from the same tree.

If you look closely at this photo you will see what looks like some crumbs on the surface of a cap. That's a sign that the mushroom above has some Oyster beetles getting their daily fill.
In fact, those are crumbs! Oyster crumbs falling from the tunnels above.
The mushroom above is a good candidate for edge trimming since it is a bit big anyway and, more than likely, the beetles have eaten their way into the stalk riddling it with tunnels. Also, when bigger, the stalks are not choice eating. We do not want to be picking Oyster beetles, beetle tunnels and unchoice stalks so leave most of that mushroom on the tree.

Best practice when collecting Oysters is to cleanly cut off the shelf one at a time and inspect it for dirt and bugs. Don't put anything in your collection bag or basket that you do not want to eat. Taking your time at the tree will save a lot of cleaning time at home.
Also, because there are so many Oysters to pick from, it's another best practice to be choosey with regard to what you put in the bag. Take only the best pieces and leave the rest.

Pleurotus ostreatus ( Pleurotos sapidus ) - A/K/A Oyster mushroom.
DATE - October 11, 2009.
FOUND - Linn Runn State Park, near Rector, Pennsylvania. Growth on an upright dead Tulip Poplar tree. Growing up to twenty feet high in several bunches.

Weather conditions: Wet. The two weeks prior to finding these our area has had intermittent rain, more on the rain side than dry. Two straight days of sporadic rain just before finding these.

<<Home << << Previous     -----     Next >>