THE WHITE-SPORED AGARICS 



153 



Pleurotus. Fr. 



Pleurotus is from two Greek words meaning side and ear, alluding to its 

 manner of growth on a log. This genus is very common everywhere in Ohio, and 

 is easily determined by its eccentric, lateral, or even absent stem, but it must 

 have white spores, and the characteristics of the Agaricini. 



Pileus fleshy in the larger species and membranaceous in the smaller forms, 

 but never becoming woody. Stem mostly lateral or wanting; when present, 

 continuous with cap. Gills with sinus or broadly decurrent, toothed. 



Grows in woods. 



Pleurotus ostrcatus. Jacq. 

 The Oyster Mushroom. Edible. 



Pileus two to six inches broad, soft, fleshy, convex, or slightly depressed 

 behind, subordinate, often cespitosely imbricated, moist, smooth, margin involute; 

 whitish, cinerous or brownish ; flesh white, the whole surface shining and satiny 

 when dry. 



Figure 116. Pleurotus ostreatus. Two-thirds natural size. Often growing very large. 



