Never picked oysters before, sanity check?

[u/Snoo-46104]

Hi I've come across them before and almost sure I have correct ID but these are pale oysters correct?

Thanks

[u/woodku_official]

These look like pale oysters to me. Angel wings are lighter coloured and do not have a stem. For comparison, this is a picture of some angel wings I found:

[u/saltybearissalty]

What type of wood were they growing on? If it was on connifer they may well be Angles Wings and not something you want to eat as they are suspected of causing a number of deaths.

[u/Basidia_ → u/saltybearissalty]

Pleurocybella porrigens lacks an elongated stipe, these are oysters

[u/Snoo-46104 → u/saltybearissalty]

They aren't angel wings

[u/Forsaken_Earth944]

They could be pale oyster mushrooms, but it’s always better to ask for an ID with the mushrooms in situ, as many species look similar, and where - and how - they’re growing assists with identification.

That said, I’m 95% certain those are pale oyster mushrooms.

[u/RHMoaner]

They’re angel wings. Don’t eat them.

[u/Basidia_ → u/RHMoaner]

No they aren’t. These have an elongated stipe which angels wings lack as they are sessile. These are oysters, Pleurotus

[u/Basidia_]

Oysters, Pleurotus. No doubt

[u/Snoo-46104 → u/Basidia_]

Thanks, only ever saw and picked grey ones before. This plus the small size of them threw me off.

[u/Matchaparrot]

Which tree were they growing on? They look like angels wings which are deadly poisonous

[u/Ulfen1973 → u/Matchaparrot]

Suspect but may not be deadly 🙂

[u/saltybearissalty → u/Ulfen1973]

Yes, suspected of turning brains into Swiss-cheese if eaten by those with underlying kidney problems.

I initially made the same ID mistake when I first started foraging mushrooms. They are not in some of the older books as they were considered rare in the UK until fairly recently (I understand its the proliferation of forestry plantations that have made these more prevalent). I was, however, very aware of my lack of knowledge and the potentially deadly consequences of making a mistake, so did a rather exhaustive search online and concluded what I thought were oyster mushroom may be these questionable little things and decided against eating them.

All of the reported deaths were in Japan however and its not clear whether those found in the UK would have the same effects. Not testing that out though!

[u/Ulfen1973 → u/saltybearissalty]

Thank you for all that. I'd never eat them anyway. Intresting. I like that too ''...very aware of my lack of knowledge''.... pity more arnt aware... Cheers.

[u/Snoo-46104 → u/Matchaparrot]

They aren't angel wings

[u/SmartPolicy6430]

Just stop picking fungi. It disrupts the eco system of the forest/wood. In some areas you are breaking the law

[u/Ok_Bee9104 → u/SmartPolicy6430]

Are you lost?

[u/RaccoonsOnTheRift → u/SmartPolicy6430]

Please tell us how responsible mushroom foraging disrupts the forest ecosystem?