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King oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii)
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0
Edible species

King oyster mushroom

Pleurotus eryngii · Pleurotaceae

The king oyster mushroom is sold for its thick, meaty white stem and small brown cap; in the wild in Turkey it is known as çaşır mantarı.

FamilyPleurotaceae
SeasonMar–Jun
Spore printWhite
Cap width4–15 cm
Stem length3–10 cm
Records in Turkey7 records
CultivationGrows at home
StatusEdible species

The king oyster mushroom is sold for its thick, meaty white stem and small brown cap; in the wild in Turkey it is known as çaşır mantarı. Unlike other oyster mushrooms, it does not grow on wood but lives as a weak parasite on the roots of carrot-family plants such as Ferula and Eryngium.

Also called: king trumpet, eryngi, French horn mushroom Turkish: Çaşır mantarı (kral istiridye), kral istiridye, caşur, heliz, kırkor, körek, göbelek, mendik mantarı

King oyster mushroom

How to recognise it

King oyster mushroom, part by part

No ring or volva Spore print: White Mild.

Cap — King oyster mushroom
Cap4–15 cm, tan, smooth and slightly velvety; convex then flattening, margin first inrolled.
Gills — King oyster mushroom
GillsWhitish, crowded, decurrent gills that join up.
Stem — King oyster mushroom
StemWhitish, 3–10 cm tall and 1–3 cm thick; very stout in cultivated forms.

When and where

Mar–Jun

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Marin season
  4. Aprin season
  5. Mayin season
  6. Junin season
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

The king oyster mushroom has a short spring season in the mountains of eastern Anatolia, and GBIF records from Turkey fall in March, April and June. Cultivated king oysters are produced all year round.

Where do king oyster mushrooms grow?

The king oyster mushroom ranges from the Atlantic through the Mediterranean basin and Central Europe to Western Asia and India, on root residues of carrot-family plants such as Eryngium and Ferula. In cultivation it is grown on wheat straw, corn stalks and poplar sawdust.

In Turkey

The king oyster mushroom grows wild in the mountains of eastern Anatolia, especially around Arguvan (Malatya), Tunceli, Erzincan and Adıyaman. Its Turkish populations fall into six genetic groups.

  • Hakkari2
  • Ankara2
  • Konya1
  • Tunceli1
  • İstanbul1

7 observations on our map (GBIF, iNaturalist). Record density also reflects where observers work.

Latest king oyster mushroom observations

See on the map

In its habitat — King oyster mushroom
In its habitat
In its habitat — King oyster mushroom
In its habitat

Look-alikes

What could it be confused with?

King oyster mushroom
King oyster mushroom
Oyster mushroom
Oyster mushroom
Edible species

Oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus

Grows in tiers on wood with a short or absent stem.

Edible species

Nebrodi oyster Pleurotus nebrodensis

A close relative shown by molecular studies to be a distinct species.

In the kitchen

Cooking with king oyster mushrooms

Storing king oyster mushrooms

Fresh · fridge3–7 daysKeep fresh king oyster mushrooms unwashed in a paper bag in the fridge; delicate species are at the short end. Source
FrozenA few monthsFreeze king oyster mushrooms cooked, not raw: sauté and cool them first. Source
DriedA few months – 1 yearKeep dried king oyster mushrooms in an airtight jar in a cool, dry, dark place. Source

How to store mushrooms: the full guide →

What it contains

A study of 15 Turkish isolates of the king oyster mushroom found phosphorus, magnesium, iron, manganese and zinc were higher in the cap, and potassium, calcium and sodium higher in the stem. Source

General information, not a health claim.

Grow it, buy it

King oyster mushroom price list

King oyster mushroom price list
ProductUsMarket (sourced, dated)
King oyster mushroom grow kit · SmallIn preparation · notify me—
King oyster mushroom grow kit · LargeIn preparation · notify me—
King oyster mushroom grow kit · MegaIn preparation · notify me—
Fresh king oyster mushroomsIn preparation · notify me—
Dried king oyster mushroomsIn preparation · notify me—

Our prices for king oyster mushrooms are published when the product is ready; for now we take waiting-list sign-ups. The market column shows prices seen on other sellers' pages on the date given; they are not our prices and may have changed.

Grow kits → How to grow →

Frequently asked questions

Are king oyster mushrooms edible?

Yes, the king oyster mushroom is an edible species. Eat a wild one only after an expert has identified it with certainty.

When is king oyster mushroom season in Turkey?

In our calendar, king oyster mushroom season runs Mar–Jun. The king oyster mushroom has a short spring season in the mountains of eastern Anatolia, and GBIF records from Turkey fall in March, April and June. Cultivated king oysters are produced all year round.

Where do king oyster mushrooms grow?

The king oyster mushroom ranges from the Atlantic through the Mediterranean basin and Central Europe to Western Asia and India, on root residues of carrot-family plants such as Eryngium and Ferula. In cultivation it is grown on wheat straw, corn stalks and poplar sawdust.

Where are king oyster mushrooms found in Turkey?

The king oyster mushroom grows wild in the mountains of eastern Anatolia, especially around Arguvan (Malatya), Tunceli, Erzincan and Adıyaman. Its Turkish populations fall into six genetic groups.

What can the king oyster mushroom be confused with?

The king oyster mushroom can be confused with oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus, edible species) and nebrodi oyster (Pleurotus nebrodensis, edible species). Look-alikes are compared on this page.

What is the king oyster mushroom called in Turkish?

In Turkish, the king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) is called Çaşır mantarı (kral istiridye); other local names include kral istiridye, caşur, heliz, kırkor, körek, göbelek and mendik mantarı.

Related species

All species → · Identify by photo →

Sources (6)
Photo credits (10)