Credit: Sabena Jane Blackbird / Alamy Stock Photo
Where to find oyster mushrooms
The oyster mushroom is common in UK woods. It can be found on hardwood trees, particularly deciduous trees, such as beech.
Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
Carnivorous and oyster-like in appearance, these large, fleshy mushrooms are common throughout the UK's woodlands. They have a signature fan-shaped cap and are edible with a slight odour similar to aniseed.
Quick facts
Common name: oyster mushroom
Scientific name: Pleurotus ostreatus
Family: Pleurotaceae
Fruiting season: year-round
Habitat: broadleaf woodland
What do oyster mushrooms look like?
A large, edible fungus with a distinctive fan or oyster-shaped cap. Unlike some other species of foraged mushrooms, such as morel and chanterelle, oyster mushrooms are cultivated on a commercial basis
Cap: fan or oyster-shaped and broad. Can be from 5–25cm in length. The colour is often white or grey but sometimes tan-coloured in places. It may be lobed or wavy.
Gills: white or cream in colour. Vary in thickness depending on the age of the fungus.
Stipe (stalk): this can be missing from specimens but is often off-centre and is short and thick.
Spores: white or grey.
Uses of oyster mushrooms
Oyster mushrooms are used in many different recipes and are available in a range of supermarkets. They are particularly popular in Asia for their subtle nutty flavour, and are even said to taste like oysters as well as resembling them. A study has shown that consumption of oyster mushroom extracts can lower cholesterol levels.
Did you know?
The oyster mushroom is one of the few known carnivorous mushrooms. They can kill nematodes (species of small worms).
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