Habitat Pleurotus ostreatus

oyster mushrooms on tree

the oyster mushroom widespread in many temperate , subtropical forests throughout world, although absent pacific northwest of north america, being replaced p. pulmonarius , p. populinus. saprotroph acts primary decomposer of wood, deciduous trees, , beech trees in particular. white-rot wood-decay fungus.

the oyster mushroom 1 of few known carnivorous mushrooms. mycelia can kill , digest nematodes, believed way in mushroom obtains nitrogen.

the standard oyster mushroom can grow in many places, other related species, such branched oyster mushroom, grow on trees. may found year round in uk.

while mushroom seen growing on dying hardwood trees, appears acting saprophytically, rather parasitically. tree dies of other causes, p. ostreatus grows on rapidly increasing mass of dead , dying wood. benefit forest decomposing dead wood, returning vital elements , minerals ecosystem in form usable other plants , organisms. despite this, belief p. ostreatus damage new zealand s forestry industry has led new zealand ban importation.