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Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quél. · Pleurotaceae
Also: Summer oyster mushroom, Indian oyster
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The lung oyster grows in clusters on deciduous wood and is smaller and more delicate than the oyster mushroom. The cap is cream-white to pale beige, never bluish. Fresh fruiting bodies smell of aniseed. It appears in summer and early autumn.
The lung oyster is an edible mushroom and very similar to the oyster mushroom. It grows on deciduous wood. It can be confused with angel's wings, which grows only on conifer wood and is considered poisonous.
It grows only on conifer wood, has no stem, is pure white and has a thin, ear-shaped cap. The lung oyster grows on deciduous wood and has a short stem. Poisonous; severe poisoning is known after eating larger amounts.
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It is larger and sturdier, and the cap is grey to grey-brown or bluish, in contrast to the paler lung oyster. It usually appears from autumn into winter. Also edible.
View on the mapThe gills run far down the stem and form grooves. The cap is ochre-brownish. The lung oyster usually has only a very short, lateral stem. Also edible.
| Lung oyster | Angel's wings | Oyster mushroom | Branched oyster | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cap | shell-shaped, cream-white to pale beige, no blue tones | ear-shaped, pure white, thin | grey to grey-brown, sometimes bluish | ochre-brownish to light brown, funnel-shaped |
| Underside | decurrent, white to cream gills | crowded, white gills | decurrent, whitish gills | gills running far down, forming grooves |
| Stem | short, lateral, white-haired at the base | absent, cap sits directly on the wood | short, lateral, felty at the base | longer, grooved by the gills |
| Flesh | tender to firm, older mushrooms tough | thin, delicate, brittle | firm, fleshy | firm, fleshy |
| Edibility | Edible | poisonous | edible | edible |
Dead wood and weakened trunks of deciduous trees. No reliable information.
Deciduous wood such as beech, ash, poplar, birch and walnut, as a wood decomposer.
possible good main season
Rough estimate; the fruiting period depends on the weather. The lung oyster appears mainly in summer and early autumn.
There are no records per region for this species yet. The country pages lead to all regions with a daily forecast.
How good are the chances of finding this species where you are right now? We calculate it from weather, soil moisture, altitude and forest at your location.
Poison centre:
Emergency: 112 · 999
Poison centre:
Emergency: 112
Mushroom advice: DGfM: find a mushroom expert. Certified mushroom experts of the German Mycological Society (DGfM).
Collecting rules: Mushrooms that are not specially protected may be collected in small quantities for personal use unless a protected area or ban applies. Certain specially protected edible species (e.g. cep, chanterelle, birch bolete) may be collected in small quantities for personal use.
Poison centre:
Emergency: 112 · 144
Mushroom advice: Austrian Mycological Society (ÖMG): mushroom advice. Mushroom advice by the Austrian Mycological Society or regional services such as municipal market offices.
Collecting rules: At most 2 kg of mushrooms per person per day unless the forest owner has prohibited collecting; organised collecting events are prohibited. Additional state rules apply (collecting hours, closed seasons), e.g. Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg.
Not specially protected.
Fried, in sauces or as a vegetable side dish. Use only young, firm caps; older mushrooms turn tough. Cook for at least 15 minutes.
No reliable information on drying. Use only specimens that grow on deciduous wood; on conifer wood the poisonous angel's wings is possible. Stems and older mushrooms are often tough.
Yes, it is considered an edible mushroom, similar to the oyster mushroom. It must be cooked thoroughly.
The lung oyster is smaller, more delicate and paler, cream-white to pale beige, without blue tones. It appears earlier in the year, mostly in summer and early autumn.
With angel's wings, which grows only on conifer wood, has no stem and is considered poisonous.
No substitute for having your finds checked in person. No guarantee of accuracy. Updated: 17.10.2026.
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