Unusual Oyster Fungus for ID

[Lancashire Lad]

Found today, growing at about 1 metre above ground, on an apparently healthy (full leaf canopy) Fagus.

The two fruitbodies were just over 25cm in width, and pure white on the tops of the caps.

The gills athough white, had a darker edge (which can just about be seen when the photo is viewed at largest size)

The gills were quite friable, but overall, the fruitbodies were quite tough, and not nearly as flexible as Pleurotus ostreatus usually exhibits.

I've never seen P.ostreatus in pure white, (and according to all my books, it should always be grey/brown), but the large size would seem to exclude both P.pulmonarius and P.cornucopiae.



Could this just be a white form of P.ostreatus

Any thoughts on ID much appreciated.

Regards,
Mike.

[diggleken]

Well, whatever pleurotus it is Mike, its quite pretty!
Young Pulmonarius?
Cheers
Ken

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by diggleken

Young Pulmonarius?

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

The two fruitbodies were just over 25cm in width, and pure white on the tops of the caps.

That's a large youngun' Ken! Imagine a fully developed one, it could take over the world

[diggleken]

They breed 'em big in deepest Lancashire.............................: D
Perhaps 'fresh' would have been a better choice of word?
Or, as a radical alternative, actually read Mike's post properly!
Cheers
Ken

[Lancashire Lad]

Having spent some time today browsing the net on this, and having found several images of white specimens on what might be regarded as "more reputable" sites, I've come to the conclusion that at that size, it can't really be anything other than P.ostreatus.

Regards,
Mike.

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Having spent some time today browsing the net on this, and having found several images of white specimens on what might be regarded as "more reputable" sites, I've come to the conclusion that at that size, it can't really be anything other than P.ostreatus.

Regards,
Mike.

I spent quite a while recently struggling with the pale ostreatus v. pulmonarius distinctions recently - so can sympathise (the spores are supposed to be slightly different in size - but of course those on my fungus were kind of in-between)

just a thought, re-looking at yours - the gills on the lower one seem to anastomosing as they run down the stem (ie becoming inter-linked, slightly criss-crossing) if that were the case you could be looking at cornucopiae growing more "laterally" than is generally the case

cheers

Chris

(PS if you think that's big for Lancashire - that would pass as a small Crepidotus over here in Yorkshire! - only joking! (it's good for morale . . . )

[Lancashire Lad]

Hi Chris,

I've just looked at the original full size image, and there are several instances where two gills merge into one, (forming a Y shape) at around the point where the stipe begins.

Some of these now merged gills, merge yet again, further down the stipe, but now appearing more as "lumpy protrusions" rather than fully fledged lamellae.

Would that type of merging still be classed as anastomosing? - (I can't find any that randomly interlink with each other).

Of the options, (given the large size, and absence of microscopy) would you be leaning more towards P.cornucopiae on these than P.ostreatus?

Regards,
Mike.