Fungus · GBIF taxon 2526548
Pleurotus pulmonarius
pleurotus pulmonariusAlso known as Indian Oyster, Italian Oyster, Phoenix Mushroom, Lung Oyster
Phoenix mushrooms grow in shelf-like clusters on decaying hardwood logs, featuring pale white to light brown caps with off-center stems. They play a vital role in forest ecosystems by decomposing lignin and cellulose, recycling nutrients back into the soil. Unlike their cold-weather relative the pearl oyster, these fungi thrive during the warm months of summer and early autumn.
SaprophyticSummer-FruitingWood-Decayer
1 / 7- diet
- Saprophytic (decomposes wood and organic matter)
- family
- Pleurotaceae
- threats
- Deforestation and intensive forestry practices that remove dead wood
- life Span
- Mycelium can live for decades; individual fruiting bodies last 1 to 2 weeks
NE
Many edible mushrooms have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fungi based on app identification alone.
- Spore Print: Collect a spore print on dark paper to observe the white to lilac-grey spore deposit.
- Substrate Check: Look for them on decaying hardwoods, especially birch, beech, and maple during warm, humid periods.
- Microscopic View: Examine the gill edges under a microscope to see the characteristic cheilocystidia.