Herb. No. 059 · Pleurotaceae
Temperate hardwood saprophyte, now fruited indoors everywhere.
Native · Europe · North America · East Asia
Native Also grownNow a garden plant worldwide
OpenGentlefungus
Oyster mushroom
Pleurotus ostreatus
The easiest gourmet mushroom — food first, with a modest immune-supporting glucan bonus.
Oyster mushrooms eat almost any cellulose. They are the homesteader's first fungus. Medicine here is mostly 'eat mushrooms.' A few people react to the spores in poorly ventilated grow rooms.
Flavor
Delicate, anise-seafood when fresh, deeper when browned.
Parts used
Fruiting body
In favor
- Foolproof kits
- Grows on straw, coffee grounds, logs
Against
- Spore load indoors
- Goes slimy if you wait