Oyster Mushrooms

''Pleurotus populinus'', the aspen oyster mushroom, is a gilled fungus native to North America. It is found on dead wood of aspen and cottonwood trees . Although morphologically similar to ''Pleurotus ostreatus'' and ''Pleurotus pulmonarius'', it has been shown to be a distinct species incapable of cross-breeding. ''P. populinus'' is reported to be edible. Unlike ''P. ostreatus'', which fruits in the autumn and winter, ''P. populinus'' fruits in late spring and summer.