Pale Oyster Mushroom - Pleurotus pulmonarius

Description

Overlapping caps to 10cm, pale ivory with an undulating margin. The whitish gills are decurrent and crowded, running to the base of the stem when mature. The stem is absent or much reduced.

Similar Species

Similar to the Oyster Mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus, but with smaller, paler caps and more wavy margins.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Photograph from top down, in side-view and underneath to show gills and attachment to substrate; note habitat and substrate

Habitat

On dead wood of deciduous trees, occasionally on conifers.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly common.

VC55 Status

Uncommon.

Further Information

According to Laessoe and Petersen 2019, it "probably forms a hybrid population with P ostreatus as a resu;lt of contamination of wild stock with various cultivated strains" . 

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Pale Oyster
Species group:
fungus
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Agaricales
Family:
Pleurotaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
4
First record:
28/08/2018 (Harris, Steve)
Last record:
13/10/2024 (Cann, Alan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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