Pleurotus parsonsiae, also known as velvet oyster mushroom, is a species of edible fungus in the genus Pleurotus, endemic to New Zealand.[1]

Pleurotus parsonsiae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Agaricales
Family: Pleurotaceae
Genus: Pleurotus
Species:
P. parsonsiae
Binomial name
Pleurotus parsonsiae
G. Stev., 1964
Synonyms

Pleurotus salignus sensu Colenso; fide Segedin & Pennycook (2001)
Pleurotus salignus sensu Massee; fide Buchanan & Ryvarden (2000)

Pleurotus parsonsiae
View the Mycomorphbox template that generates the following list
Gills on hymenium
Cap is offset or depressed
Hymenium is decurrent
Stipe is bare
Spore print is white
Ecology is saprotrophic or parasitic
Edibility is edible

Description

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General

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  • The cap grows from 7 to about 12 cm, creamy fawn, darker when wet or grey yellow, darker towards margin, paler towards stipe, drying ochraceous, orbicular with margin, down-rolled at first and later splitting. It is dry, smooth, matt to finely fibrillose, hence the "velvet" common name.
  • The flesh is creamy white.
  • The stem is short, sometimes absent, from 8 by 8 mm., to 1 by1.5 cm.
  • The gills are decurrent to deeply decurrent, creamy, moderately crowded, thin, deep, with margins becoming lacerate.
  • The spore print is white, becoming creamy.[1]

Microscopic characteristics

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  • The spores are around 9-11 μm by 4-4.5 μm, non-amyloid, thin-walled.[1]

Distribution, habitat & ecology

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This mushroom is saprobic on dead wood, preferring Sophora sp., Leptospermum scoparium, Eucalyptus sp., andCordyline australis. It is endemic to New Zealand.[1] The phylogenetic research of Pleurotus genus has classified P. parsonsiae as incertae sedis with regards to clades and intersterility groups.[2]

Human impact

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This mushroom is edible and it can be cultivated. Grow kits and cultures are sold in New Zealand as an alternative to illegal invasive species of Pleurotus.[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "VIRTUAL MYCOTA: NZ Fungi Identification: Pleurotus parsonsiae". virtualmycota.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  2. ^ Segedin, BP; Buchanan, PK; Wilkie, JP (1995). "Studies in the agaricales of New Zealand: New species, new records and renamed species of Pleurotus (Pleurotaceae)". Australian Systematic Botany. 8 (3): 453–482. doi:10.1071/SB9950453.
  3. ^ "Species of Mushrooms Cultivated in NZ". MycoLogic. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
  4. ^ "The Importance of Keeping it Native » Matariki Mushrooms". Matariki Mushrooms. 2021-04-29. Retrieved 2023-02-26.