Oyster Mushroom – Pleurotus ostreatus

Description

  • Muscle shaped bracket up to 20 cm across
  • The upper surface can either be creamy or grey
  • They have a short lateral stem
  • Underneath they have white/cream coloured gills

Where Can this be found?

  • On dead or alive trees
  • All broadleaved trees
  • Rarely on conifers

Type of Decay

  • White rot – the wood in general becomes first brittle and then soft.

Place of Decay

  • Wounds on stems and branches are critical entry points for the fungal pathogen to infect a tree.
  • Stem and large branches

Significance

  • Brittle fracture or ductile fracture