Pink oyster mushroomPleurotus djamor
flamingo oyster mushroom · Ní¨t ´majé / hongo de jonote (Sierra Norte of Oaxaca (Chinantec indigenous culture)) · Kayoch (Lacandon Jungle, Chiapas (Lacandon Maya culture)) · Oreja blanca (Playón de la Gloria, Chiapas) · Oreja de cazahuate (Tlayacapan, Morelos)
Pleurotus djamor is an edible fungus in the family Pleurotaceae. White and pink forms occur. It grows on wood and is cultivated commercially.[1][3][7][8]
Edible. Eat it cooked. Never eat a wild mushroom identified only from photos.
- Season in Mexico
- HabitatDecaying tropical hardwood
- FlavorMeaty, umami, seafood notes
- GrowingEasy
- FamilyPleurotaceae
How do you identify pink oyster mushroom?
What can pink oyster mushroom be confused with?
Pink oyster mushroom
Jack O'Lantern mushroomOmphalotus illudens
Key difference: Features bright pumpkin-orange caps, a well-developed central-to-tapering stem, a white-to-cream spore print, and illudin toxins causing severe gastrointestinal poisoning.[10][11][12]
Pink oyster mushroom
Orange mock oysterPhyllotopsis nidulans
Key difference: It has a densely hairy orange cap. Its odor can be strong and foul or indistinct. Its allantoid spores measure 4.5–6 × 1.5–2.5 µm.[9]
Can you eat pink oyster mushroom?
It is edible and prepared cooked.[3]
How do you grow pink oyster mushroom?
Temperature
Colonization24–30 °C
Fruiting20–30 °C
Humidity
Colonization0–90 %
Fruiting0–88 %
Full cycle: 21 days
- Light
- Indirect
Substrates
Woods it likes
Log your batches, temperatures and harvests. The free plan needs no card.
How do you cook pink oyster mushroom?
It has a meaty, chewy texture. Fried until crisp, it resembles bacon. A study developed shrimp substitute prototypes using Pleurotus djamor and Hericium erinaceus.[7][8][18]
What does research say about pink oyster mushroom?
- Cell studyPleurotus djamor powder extracts exhibited antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH free radicals and improved cellular glucose consumption in vitro.[14]
- Cell studyPleurotus djamor var. fuscopruinosus extracts inhibited alpha-glucosidase and showed cytotoxicity against A549 lung cancer cells and SW480 colorectal cancer cells in vitro.[15]
- Cell studyPolysaccharides isolated from Pleurotus djamor enhanced macrophage phagocytic activity and showed antitumor effects against melanoma cells in vitro.[16]
- Animal studyAqueous mycelial extracts of Pleurotus djamor decreased Eimeria spp. gastrointestinal oocyst counts in rabbit animal trials.[19]
These findings describe research. None of them is a recommendation to use it. If you take medication or have a disease, talk to your doctor.
Where and when does pink oyster mushroom grow?
It grows on deadwood in tropical and subtropical regions. In Oaxaca, it is documented on jonote (Heliocarpus appendiculatus).[1][3][4][5][6]
It has a tropical and subtropical distribution. The sources document its presence in Mexico, including localities in Chiapas, Jalisco, Morelos and Oaxaca.[1][2][3][6]
Names in Mexico
History and traditional uses
In Santiago Comaltepec, Oaxaca, it is recorded as Ní¨t ´majé, meaning jonote mushroom. In Lacanjá-Chansayab, Chiapas, it is called kayoch, and in Playón de la Gloria, oreja blanca.[4][5]
About the name
Elias Fries sanctioned this fungus in 1821 as Agaricus djamor based on documentation by Georg Eberhard Rumphius, and Karel Boedijn transferred it to Pleurotus in 1959. Mycologists treated pink and white forms as distinct species for decades until genetic mating trials confirmed they represent color varieties within a single intercompatible species complex.[2][3][7]
Fun facts
Frequently asked questions
Is the pink oyster mushroom (Pleurotus djamor) edible?
Yes, Pleurotus djamor is edible and prepared cooked.[3][7][8]
How do you cook pink oyster mushrooms and what do they taste like?
It can be sautéed, roasted, fried, or added to pasta and soups.[7][8][18]
Can you eat pink oyster mushrooms raw?
It is prepared thoroughly cooked; raw mushrooms taste sour.[7][8]
How long do fresh pink oyster mushrooms keep after harvest?
The source describes a shelf life of about one day.[7]
