MUSHROOM GROWING 



white and strongly decurrent, that is, they 

 course down the stem. The cluster is made 

 up of many individuals, each with pileus 

 and fairly distinct stem, the latter excentric, 

 or clearly at one edge. This plant may be 

 found through the season from early spring 

 until frost, but early autumn is gener- 

 ally the season of heaviest fruitage. The 

 mycelium grows vigorously in pure cul- 

 ture on a variety of substrata. There is, 

 however, no particular reason for attempt- 

 ing the artificial cultivation of this form. 

 By most persons, it would not be regarded 

 as one of the better flavored species, but pos- 

 sesses obvious advantages in its frequency, 

 size, and unmistakable form characters. 

 There are no species of Pleurotus which are 

 even suspicious. Just why P. ostreatus is 

 the ^'Oyster Mushroom" is not clear unless 

 it be that the form of the plant, looking 

 down upon it, the wavy outline of the pileus, 

 and the grayish tint sometimes observed, are 

 collectively responsible. 



Related to the preceding is P. ulmarius 



170 



