Pleurotus dryinus - Veiled Oyster

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Agaricales

Among the oyster mushrooms (so called because the shape of the cap is similar to that of an oyster shell) are some outstandingly photogenic fungi, and the Veiled Oyster is certainly one of the finest. The fruitbodies can be found on living or dead hardwood trees, notably Beech trees and oaks, and very occasionally on conifers.

Sometimes occurring singly, these large oyster mushrooms are most spectacular when fruiting in bunches, as shown here.

It is the partial veil (rather than a universal veil of the kind that leaves a volva at the stem base of Amanita and Volvariella species) from which this edible mushroom gets its common name. Fragments of the partial veil can often be seen hanging from the inrolled cap margins of young fruitbodies of the Veiled Oyster.

Identification Guide

	Cap White or cream; convex and usually bracket-like with either radial or eccentric stem; convex, gradually flattening but often retaining a broad umbo; surface is felt-like, often breaking into large scale-like patches; 5 to 15cm across. Gills White, decurrent.
Stem	White or cream; up to 3cm long and 1 to 2cm dia.; tapering towards base; with a short-lived white or cream ring.
Spore print	White or pale cream.
Odour/taste	Not significant.
Habitat	On dead wood of standing deciduous broadleaf trees, particularly Beech, oaks and Horse Chestnut.
Season	Late summer and autumn.
Occurrence	Uncommon.
Similar species	The frosted appearance of the cap distinguishes this oyster mushroom from other common members of the Pleurotus genus.