Bayoufrogg

Snake2985- how do you like the 20 watt led lights you ordered?

Sure.

A very small stem or central stem does not mean the mushroom is fake and poisonous, in the pleurotus family. A small, almost stemless, stalk is what youre looking for. There are no poisonous pleurotus mushrooms. The "fake pearl oyster" you speak of is likely the elm oyster. They are not poisonous, just not as tasty as true winter or summer oyster. Elm oysters are slightly whiter and have more of an individual stem for every mushroom cap. They also do NOT have decurrent gills.


True oysters have decurrent gills. Look at picture in link below. I found these this morning. The gills dont stop at cap, they run down into the tiny stem. Find stacked mushrooms (resembling oysters) with decurrent gills on dead hardwood and they will be edible.

Oysters most commonly grow on dead willows, but they also grow on other dead hardwoods as well. ID the mushroom first, not the tree.

Avoid mushrooms that look like oysters if it is a mushroom by itself. They should be stacked together. Avoid mushrooms with caps covered in hair or algae. These are likely not oysters.

Always pick mushrooms above your high water line. They can absorb a lot of toxins.

LINK