The hairy oyster mushroom (Panus neostrigosus or Lentinus strigosus) fruits on logs and stumps across North America and around the world. It easily catches the eye because the cap is strangely fuzzy and distinctly purplish-red when young, although the color later fades. Hairy oyster mushrooms break down dead hardwood and play a vital role in forest ecosystems. These are not edible mushrooms, but only because they don’t taste good and are very tough. They are not toxic.
- Scientific Name: Panus neostrigosus
- Common Name: Hairy Oyster Mushroom, Hairy Panus, Ruddy Panus
- Habitat: Dead hardwoods
- Edibility: Edible but not recommended
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All About The Hairy Oyster Mushroom
The hairy oyster mushroom has a lengthy list of previous scientific names — it has undergone numerous reclassifications. These mushrooms have been known as Lentinus strigosus, Lentinus lecomtei, Panus rudis, Panus lecomtei, Agaricus strigosus, and several others. Now, it is Panus neostrigosus, but you may see the other scientific names used in older guidebooks.
This mushroom also goes by several common names in addition to its scientific name. It’s known as the Hairy Oyster Mushroom or Hairy Panus because of its distinctive, densely hairy cap. Younger specimens often have a reddish color, which is why some call it Ruddy Panus.
Panus neostrigosus grows in many places around the world. It is found throughout Eastern Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
Hairy Oyster Mushroom Identification Guide
Season
The time you’ll find hairy oyster mushrooms depends a lot on where you live. Warmer places like East Texas have them all year round. The growing season typically runs from May through November in cooler regions, such as the Midwest.
Habitat
The hairy oyster mushroom gets its nutrients by breaking down dead wood. They grow on recently dead hardwood trees, especially on logs, stumps, and woody debris. These mushrooms really like oak trees, but grow well on hardwoods of all types.
They might grow alone, in groups, or bunch together to form beautiful overlapping rosettes. While they look like tree parasites, they actually help forest ecosystems by decomposing dead wood and putting important nutrients back into the soil.
Identification
Cap
The cap of the hairy oyster mushroom is ¾ to 3 inches wide. The young mushroom has a rounded, often slightly fan-shaped cap with tightly rolled under edges. With age, the cap center sinks and the mushroom looks more vase-shaped. Because the stem is off-center, the “vase” isn’t always tightly closed and looks more like a rolled tongue. The cap’s surface is covered with dense hairs, and this characteristic remains unchanged with age.
Young hairy oyster mushrooms are a beautiful purple color, but they fade quickly in sunlight. The shade of purple or reddish-purple really varies between specimens. Sometimes, it is very dark, and at other times, it is more lilac or plum-colored. Usually within a day, the brilliant purplish-red turns to shades of reddish-brown, pinkish-brown, orangish-brown, or tan. The overall color turns very bland and unremarkable with age.
Due to the high variability in color based on the age of the mushroom, it can appear extremely different, even though it’s the same species. This makes identification tricky because you have to know all the possible color changes. Sometimes it is a bright purplish color, other times it is lilac-pink, and when it is very aged, it is tan or just brown.
Gills
The hairy panus’s gills are close together and extend down the stem (decurrent). Young mushrooms may have purplish gills, but they quickly turn white or cream colored. With age, they fade to a pale, brownish hue. The crowded gills often have short gills mixed among them.
Stem
This mushroom’s stem typically grows off-center or from the side, rather than from the center. This isn’t always the case, though. The stem growth often depends on where the mushroom is located on the wood and how much it needs to stretch to reach light. This may also cause the stem to be essentially absent at times. It all depends on which direction and how far the stem needs to grow to get nutrients.
The stem is generally ⅜ to ¾ inch long and has a slightly swollen base. It is the same color as the cap, or whitish, and is also hairy like the cap.
Flesh and Staining
The hairy oyster mushroom has whitish flesh that is tough and stringy. The flesh does not change color when cut.
Taste and Smell
The mushroom’s smell and taste are mild and unremarkable. Some specimens might taste slightly bitter.
Spore Print
The spore print of the hairy oyster mushroom is white to cream-colored.
Key Identification Points:
- Hairy cap
- Hairy stem
- White mature gills
- Off-center stem
- No distinctive smell
Hairy Oyster Mushroom Lookalikes
Lilac Oysterling (Panus conchatus)
This species is in the same family and looks extremely similar to the hairy oyster mushroom. Th lilac oysterling grows on wood, is purple to tan colored, and has gills that run down the stem. The big difference is that the lilac oysterling is not hairy at all.
Mock Oyster Mushroom (Phyllotopsis nidulans)
The mock oyster causes the most confusion. When both species are young, it’s easy to differentiate them. The mock oyster is very orange, and the hairy oyster is reddish-purple. However, when both species age, they develop a dull, tannish color that makes them look alike.
You can see the difference by looking at the mock oyster’s orange gills – they stay brightly orange colored even after the cap fades. On top of that, the mock oyster mushroom has a strong skunky smell that you won’t find in hairy oysters.
Bear Lentinellus (Lentinellus ursinus)
The bear lentinellus looks like a hairy oyster because it also has a fan-shaped cap and grows on wood. Its cap is also quite hairy. The primary difference is that the bear lentinellus is always brown to dark brown in color. It does not have the purple-to-reddish shades of the hairy oyster mushroom. The gills of the bear lentinellus are also extremely serrated, like a bread-knife, while the hairy oyster mushroom’s gill edges are smooth.
Peeling Oysterling (Crepidotus mollis)
Peeling oysterlings are also oyster shell/half-moon shaped, but they are not hairy at all. They are white to brown and have a very smooth cap and stem.
Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)
At a glance, the hairy oyster mushroom does resemble the true oyster mushroom. They are both often half-moon shaped, have gills that run down the stem, and grow on wood. However, there are very obvious differences when you look closely.
True oyster mushrooms are not hairy on their caps or stems. They also tend to be gray to brownish-gray in color. Oyster mushrooms usually smell like anise, as well, while the hairy oyster mushroom has no discernable smell.
Hairy Oyster Mushroom Edibility
People still debate whether you can eat the hairy oyster mushroom. You’ll find this species in some foraging guides, but there are good reasons to pause before you decide to cook it.
Most seasoned foragers consider the hairy oyster mushroom to be in a gray area when it comes to eating it. Reliable sources give it a “Questionable Edible” status. This means that while it’s not highly toxic, some features make it less than ideal to eat.
The biggest problem with the hairy panus comes down to its texture. It has tough and thin flesh that doesn’t cook up well. The hairy texture also stays even after you cook them. Most people find this texture pretty unappetizing.
Some experts simply refer to it as “inedible but not toxic.” Others say you can technically eat it, but warn about how it tastes and feels. Most experts agree that it’s nowhere near practical as food because of these issues.
Additionally, the hairy oyster mushroom may taste bitter, especially when it’s older. The bitter taste, stringy texture, and hairy cap put the hairy oyster mushroom in the “technically edible but not worth it” category.
People who have cooked and eaten this species report that it is best when young and still purple because the flesh is more tender than. Some foragers dry and powder it to add to soups and stews, as it is usually too tough to eat on its own.
In Brazil, it is considered an edible mushroom, and there is ongoing research looking into cultivation and nutritional value.
Medicinal Properties of the Hairy Oyster Mushroom
Panus species contain compounds with antimicrobial properties. The extracts showed moderate activity against bacteria like Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus. Some compounds also affected mammalian cell lines, indicating potential medical applications.
The medical research on Panus neostrigosus is still new. Scientists have focused on related species so far.
Common Questions About Hairy Oyster Mushrooms
Where can I find hairy oyster mushrooms?
Hairy oyster mushrooms are typically found growing on dead hardwood logs and stumps, particularly oak trees. They prefer moist, shaded woodland areas and can be found in various regions across North America.
Are hairy oyster mushrooms edible?
Hairy oyster mushrooms are considered “questionable edibles.” They have a tough, stringy texture and often develop a bitter taste, which means they’re not great to eat. However, they also aren’t toxic. They just taste bad.
How can I distinguish hairy oyster mushrooms from lookalikes?
The hairy oyster mushroom has a distinctive fuzzy cap and stem, white mature gills, and an off-center stem. These features are usually enough to differentiate it from lookalikes.
Do hairy oyster mushrooms have any medicinal properties?
While specific research on hairy oyster mushrooms is limited, related species in the Panus genus have shown potential health benefits. These include antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. However, more studies are needed to confirm the medicinal properties of Panus neostrigosus itself.
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