oyster mushroom

American  

noun

1. oyster cap.

---

oyster mushroom British  

noun

1. an edible fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus, having an oyster-shaped cap, commonly found growing in clusters on the trunks of broad-leaved trees

---

Etymology

Origin of oyster mushroom

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

oyster mushroom

With its bright yellow, cushion-like caps, the golden oyster mushroom has become a favorite among home growers and food lovers.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 24, 2026

Other edible mushrooms in California that are far more recognizable — and don’t have dangerous lookalikes — include the chicken of the woods, oyster mushroom and honey mushroom, Diaz said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2025

The oyster mushroom produces chemicals to paralyze its nematode prey within a few minutes of contact.

From National Geographic ● Dec. 12, 2023

“Somebody sees this thing and they think it looks wild and extraterrestrial,” she said, “but it’s a pink oyster mushroom that cooks beautifully into something that tastes like barbecue pork.”

From Washington Post ● Apr. 13, 2023

The oyster mushroom is found from March to December and is always a very acceptable mushroom.

From The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Its Habitat and its Time of Growth by Miron Elisha Hard