Leaflike Oyster Mushroom: Identification and Lookalikes

The leaflike oyster mushroom (Hohenbuehelia petaloides) is a cosmopolitan species, meaning it thrives in gardens, parks, lawns, and other urban and suburban settings. It might even show up indoors, growing in your flower pot! It likes to be where people are, so there’s a good chance you’ll run into this mushroom species. It is also quite adaptable, with a wide distribution across North America, Venezuela, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand.

Scientific Name: Hohenbuehelia petaloides, or Hohenbuehelia petalodes (without an “i”). Pleurotus petaloides is a synonym.
Common Names: Leaflike oyster mushroom, Shoehorn oyster
Habitat: On the ground around decomposing wood
Edibility: Edible, but not great

leaflike oyster mushrooms — You might be surprised to see where these mushrooms grow! Leaflike oyster mushrooms love mulch and potting soil. ***Hohenbuehelia petaloides by Slave to the King*** on Mushroom Observer

Jump to:

All About The Leaflike Oyster Mushroom
Leaflike Oyster: An Identification Guide
Leaflike Oyster Lookalikes
Leaflike Oyster Mushroom Edibility
Common Questions About The Leaflike Shoehorn Oyster Mushroom

All About The Leaflike Oyster Mushroom

The leaflike oyster mushroom, also known as the “shoehorn oyster mushroom,” belongs to the Pleurotaceae family. Its scientific name is a tribute to Ludwig Samuel Joseph David Alexander von Hohenbuehelia Heufler, an Austrian statesman and botanist/mycologist.

This is a common and widespread species that may get confused with the delicious oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp) by untrained mushroom eyes. It does have similarities, but also quite a lot of differences.

Leaflike Oyster: An Identification Guide

Season

The mushroom is typically found during the summer and fall seasons or over winter in warmer climates.

Habitat

The leaflike oyster is a saprobic species, which means it feeds on decaying wood. However, it doesn’t grow from trees or logs; it grows terrestrially from the ground, sourcing the decomposing wood for nutrients. Or, to complicate things, it may also grow from woodchips – the wood being broken down enough for the fungus to access.

Leaflike oyster mushrooms are often found alone or in clusters around stumps, mulch, or prepared soils. It also grows on the ground in the forest; it is not limited to urban locations.

The species is widely distributed in North America and found in Venezuela, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand.

leaflike oysters Hohenbuehelia petaloides — Leaflike oyster mushrooms grow on the ground, often in overlapping clusters. ***Hohenbuehelia petaloides by George L.*** on Mushroom Observer

Identification

Cap

The cap of this mushroom has a unique shape, often compared to a shoehorn or a petal; this is where it gets its name. It ranges from 1.2 to 3.5 inches in diameter and looks like a rolled-up fan, funnel, or collection of folded-over leaves. It may also not be rolled up and be more open fan-shaped.

The cap is usually sticky to moist when fresh, with a dark brown to grayish brown color that fades to pale yellowish brown or beige as it matures. The center of the cap is usually darker than the rest of the cap. The cap’s surface is relatively bald, though it may have fine white fuzz in some places.

Gills

The gills of this species run down the stem. Many shorter gills are dispersed among the longer gills; the shorter ones don’t reach the stem. They’re crowded and typically whitish or grayish in color. With age, they turn a dull yellow.

Stem

The stem can be difficult to define precisely as it seamlessly transitions into the cap. It is quite small, measuring between 0.4 to 1.2 inches tall. The stem is a brownish to whitish color. The stem may appear bald or fuzzy over the lower portion.

Flesh

The mushroom’s flesh is thin, whitish, rubbery, tough, and does not change color when sliced.

Odor and Taste

The leaflike oyster has a mealy odor and taste.

Spore Print

The spore print of the mushroom is white.

The cap often rolls over to show off the gills. ***Hohenbuehelia petaloides by Judi T*** on Mushroom Observer

Notice the funnel or shoehorn shape of the cap — it is lower on one side ***Hohenbuehelia petaloides by Brandon Fearns*** on Mushroom Observer

From the gill side, it looks very oyster like. But from the cap side, it’s quite different from pleurotus species. ***Hohenbuehelia petaloides by Jacob Kalichman*** on Mushroom Observer

Leaflike Oyster Lookalikes

Aniseed Cockleshell (Lentinellus cochleatus)

This species is very similar but grows directly from wood, and features serrated gill edges and a more pronounced stem. It also has a faint anise (licorice) smell. As you can see in the second photo, this species also tends to grow in tight clusters unlike the leaflike oyster who’s clusters are more spread out. This species is not edible due to its strong bitterness.

***Lentinellus cochleatus by Eva Skific*** on Mushroom Observer

Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus)

The true oyster mushroom grows on wood, not from the ground. This is the primary difference. The caps are also more shell-shaped than funnel shaped, though that can vary. Oyster mushrooms have more substantial flesh and get much larger than the leaflike oyster.

pleurotus mushroom — Oyster mushrooms grow from trees, alive and dead

Tapinella panuoides

This species grows in wood chips or decomposing conifer wood. It has a yellowish-brown cap and gills that are easily separated from the cap. This species is poisonous.

***Tapinella panuoides by aarongunnar*** on Mushroom Observer

Leaflike Oyster Mushroom Edibility

The leaflike oyster is considered edible, although its rubbery texture is unpleasant to many people. It’s reportedly not particularly great tasting either, but it used to bulk up stews or stir fries. Remember, always cook wild mushrooms thoroughly before consumption.