Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus
Identification
This mushroom has pale oyster shaped caps and decurrent gills.
Location
Common statewide
Size
2 to 8 inch caps
Diet
It feeds on decaying hardwood.
Habitat
It occurs on logs and fallen trees.
Activity Period
April to November
Behavior
It grows in layered clusters on wood. It appears after rain.
Lifecycle
Fruiting occurs in cool moist seasons.
Population
The population is stable statewide.
History
It has long been present in Ohio.
Human Interactions
It is edible and widely cultivated.
Facts
It can trap and digest nematodes.
Sources
ODNR NatureServe
Wood decay | Logs stumps hardwoods | Statewide