Species of fungus
Hohenbuehelia petaloides, commonly known as the leaflike oyster[2] or the shoehorn oyster mushroom,[3] is a species of agaric fungus belonging to the family Pleurotaceae.[4] The fruit bodies have pale to brown funnel-shaped caps with decurrent gills[2] and are considered edible.[5] The species has a cosmopolitan distribution[4] and is found near the decaying wood it feeds on.[2]
Taxonomy
The species was first described in 1785 by Jean Baptiste François Pierre Bulliard.[6] It was later assigned to the new genus, Hohenbuehelia, in 1866 by Stephan Schulzer von Müggenburg.[6][7] Synonyms include Hohenbuehelia geogenia[4] and Pleurotus petaloides.[2]
Description
The cap ranges from fan-shaped to funnel-shaped, growing up to 10 cm wide.[2] The cap surface is smooth or microscopically hairy and ranges in color from pale or whitish (often when young) to brown.[2] The gills are decurrent and are often crowded and narrow.[5] The stem is either absent or short and attached laterally.[5] The texture is tough or rubbery due to the gelatinous layer under the cuticle.[2] The mushroom has a mealy taste and odor[8] and is considered edible, although the tough texture may not be appealing.[5]
Habitat and distribution
The species is saprobic, feeding on decaying wood.[2] It can be found either alone or clustering in small groups around woody debris or the occasional stump.[2] The species is considered to have a cosmopolitan distribution[4] and is known to be found in regions including North America, Venezuela, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand.[9] Like most Pleurotaceae, it is nematophagous.[10]
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