Description
The late fall oyster grows in the cool season, when most mushrooms are already finishing. It forms overlapping, fan-shaped or shell-shaped caps up to 9 cm wide, greenish in colour, with crowded, bright orange-yellow gills underneath, set on a short, stout stem.
It grows on fallen wood of broadleaf trees, sometimes conifers. It is sometimes confused with the oyster mushroom, from which it is distinguished by its greenish cap and orange gills.
We therefore do not recommend collecting it for eating.
Identification features
- Cap
- Fruiting bodies made up mainly of greenish, overlapping fan-shaped or shell-shaped caps (oyster shape), up to 9 cm wide.
- Hymenophore (underside of the cap)
- Gills crowded, bright orange-yellow, adnate to decurrent on a short, stout stem.
- Stem
- Short and stout; further details — no data.
- Flesh
- No detailed data; taste described as ranging from mild to bitter. Never taste the flesh to assess edibility.
- Spore print and spores
- Spore print cream to yellow. Spores smooth, amyloid, 4–6 × 1–2 µm.
Habitat and distribution
Ecology. Grows on fallen wood of broadleaf trees, sometimes conifers, in the cool season; in North America regarded as an indicator of the end of the mushroom season.
Distribution. Great Britain and North America; exact data on occurrence and status in Poland — no data. No legal protection in Poland.
Fruiting. Late autumn, in cool weather; exact months — no data.
What can it be confused with?
- Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) — Indicated as a species it is confused with. The late fall oyster has greenish caps and bright orange-yellow gills; detailed differences — no data.
Never rely on a single feature. If you are not sure — do not pick it; show the mushroom to a qualified mushroom expert.
Interesting facts
- It is one of the latest-fruiting mushrooms; in North America it is regarded as an indicator that the mushroom season is coming to an end.
- Research has shown that two separate species are hidden under this name: S. serotina and S. edulis, unknown in Europe.
Gribo does not assess edibility. Identification from a photo — also in the app — does not replace a mushroom expert.
Look-alikes: Late Fall Oyster Mushroom and similar species
Frequently asked questions
When does Late Fall Oyster Mushroom grow?
According to observations in Poland (GBIF) the season is: October – January; most records fall in November.
Where does Late Fall Oyster Mushroom grow?
Grows on fallen wood of broadleaf trees, sometimes conifers, in the cool season; in North America regarded as an indicator of the end of the mushroom season.
What can Late Fall Oyster Mushroom be confused with?
The most often mentioned look-alikes are: Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). Never rely on a single feature — if in doubt, show the mushroom to an expert.
In the Gribo app this species also has a 3D model you can rotate, photos in the quiz and warnings when identifying with the camera. See how to get started.