Featured Fungus: Pleurotus ostreatus

by Dave Layton

I can't believe we haven't already featured oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus and P. pulmonarious) Maybe that's because they're so ubiquitous and abundant that they're largely kept on the back-pages in our amazing finds catalog. However they're an amazing find for all of us! They're the fungus that is central in so many future advances. Whether as food or health supplement, construction materials or even bioremediation, Pleurotus is one genus that has the most promise overall.

They also have the most promise overall for my mushroom basket. That's because I live near a big river and floodplains and islands with old river willows are some of the best habitats to find them. Whether I dry, freeze or cook fresh, oyster mushrooms are a staple of my diet for most of the year, and I'm not complaining. I've even found edible ones around here in January, which seems ever more possible with global warming.

My 2 year old (at the time) granddaughter described them well for those who aren't familiar with them. "They look like shells but smooth on top and soft and white (gills) underneath". Later her dad sent a video with her discussing their edibility - "These are good!" Enough said. You also need to know that they grow on wood and they're beautiful, as the pics by Jim Frink will show! Check out more of his great photos on this website:

https://iowamushroom.smugmug.com/Mushroom/Mushroom/i-DfWPjmd/A