fairyhouse-branching oyster

Pleurotus cornucopiae, the branching oyster mushroom , is an edible gilled fungus. Native to Europe.

The branching oyster mushroom, like other species of oyster mushroom, is a wood-decay fungus. In the wild,  most commonly decays hardwoods such as elm. Spores are spread by Callipogon relictus, a beetle.

Golden oyster mushrooms are cultivated commercially, usually on a medium of grain, straw, or sawdust. Pleurotus species are some of the most commonly cultivated mushrooms, particularly in China, due to their ease of cultivation and their ability to convert 100g of organic refuse into 50-70g of fresh mushrooms, which are up to 30% protein.

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