View A43-1112-1979-eng.pdf

PLEUROTUS
usually lateral or almost lacking, occasionally excentric to nearly central,
stout, firm and solid, sometimes hairy at the base, spores smooth, tinged lilac
in heavy deposits, oblong, 7-10 (12) X 3-4 jjl.
Usually growing in overlapping shelving clusters on wood of deciduous
trees. May-Oct. Common.
The name 'oyster mushroom' has been applied to this species because of
the shape of the pileus, which often suggests a shell. It is edible, but authors
disagree as to its quahty. The manner of cooking is important if this species is
to be fully appreciated. It is recommended that this mushroom be cut in pieces,
which are then dipped in seasoned beaten egg, rolled in bread or cracker
crumbs and fried in hot fat.
Many authors have tried to distinguish Pleurotus sapidus from P. ostreatus
(Fr.) Kummer on the basis of the color of the spore deposit. The spore print of
P. sapidus was said to be hlac-tinted and that of P. ostreatus white. However,
we have been unable to find any specimen in which the lilac color did not show
up in a good spore deposit. This has also been the experience of other collectors
in North America and, although it is possible that a similar white-spored spe-
cies occurs in Europe, it is either absent or very rare in North America. P.
subareolatus Peck is somewhat similar in appearance and has a white spore
deposit but larger spores. If it should prove to be universally true that all the
forms with small spores have a Hlac-tinted spore deposit, P. sapidus will
become a synonym of P. ostreatus, which is the older name.
The amount of development of the stipe is variable and might lead to
possible confusion with some forms of Pleurotus ulmarius, but the decurrent
lamellae and cylindric spores will distinguish it readily.
It has been claimed that successive crops of fruit bodies may be obtained
by watering a log on which they are known to occur.
PLEUROTUS SEROTINUS (Fr.) Kummer Edible
Figure 1 1 2, page 5 1 ; Figure 413, page 296
PILEUS compact, 1-3 in. broad, typically more or less semicircular in out-
line, varying to kidney-shaped, convex with inrolled margin, expanding somewhat,
varying from densely tomentose to almost glabrous, shmy-viscid when
moist, muddy olivaceous or yellow-green to dull shades of yellow-brown or
reddish, flesh thick, white, firm, odor and taste not distinctive, lamellae
narrowly adnate, often showing a sharp fine of demarcation between the end of
the lamellae and beginning of tomentum on stipe, thin, close, narrowing in
front and behind, whitish to yellowish tan. stipe soHd, stubby, i/i-% in. long,
up to % in. thick, laterally attached, continuous with peUicle of the pileus on
the upper surface, densely tomentose below or partially dotted with minute,
dark brown scales, yellowish, spores smooth, white, narrowly oblong, some
slightly curved, 4-6 X 1-1.5 /*• cystidia up to 28/x long, about 12 /x broad at
widest point, narrowing slightly toward the apex and considerably toward the
base, sac-Hke.
105