Pleurotus euosmus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Basidiomycota |
Class: | Agaricomycetes |
Order: | Agaricales |
Family: | Pleurotaceae |
Genus: | Pleurotus |
Species: | P. euosmus
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Binomial name | |
Pleurotus euosmus | |
Synonyms | |
Pleurotus euosmus | |
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Gills on hymenium | |
Cap is convex or depressed | |
Hymenium is decurrent | |
Stipe is bare | |
Spore print is pink | |
Ecology is saprotrophic or parasitic | |
Edibility is choice |
Pleurotus euosmus, also known as tarragon oyster mushroom, is a species of edible fungus in the genus Pleurotus, It is quite similar to the better-known Pleurotus ostreatus, but it is distinguished by its strong smell reminiscent of tarragon and substantially larger spores.
This mushroom is saprotrophic and can also be a weak parasite. It occurs in stumps and fallen trunks, preferring elms. It is fairly rare, limited to the British Isles, reported only in England and Scotland.[1]
Pleurotus euosmus is quite similar to the well-known food mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus, to the point of Watling & Gregory having considered P. euosmus a variety of P. ostreatus. However, later phylogenetic research has shown it is more closely related to Pleurotus citrinopileatus and Pleurotus cornucopiae, belonging to their intersterility group in P. djamor-cornucopiae clade.[2]
This mushroom is edible and it can be cultivated in a manner similar to P. ostreatus.[1] It is cultivated by individual hobbyists, but not cultivated on a wide/commercial scale.