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Upcoming Events | Meet the Instructors | Plant Archive | Mushroom Archive
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The mock oyster (Phyllotopsis nidulans) is an inedible mushroom that could be confused for edible oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.).
It can be found growing on decaying hardwoods and conifers from fall-spring.
The mock oyster can be identified by its fuzzy, fan-shaped orange cap. The cap color fades with age. Gills are orange. The mushroom usually lacks a stem. It has a foul, sulfurous scent.
True oyster mushrooms have decurrent gills that run down a stubby stem and lack fuzz on their caps. They have a scent of licorice when fresh.
Mock oysters are non-toxic but considered inedible due to their tough texture.
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Written by Amy Demers, founder of the Connecticut Foraging Club. To learn more about foraging in Connecticut, check out our upcoming classes.
