Pleurotus djamor

Pleurotus djamor, commonly known as the pink oyster mushroom, is a species of fungus in the family Pleurotaceae.

Taxonomy
It was originally named Boletus secundus arboreus by the German-born botanist Georg Eberhard Rumphius, in 1750. It was sanctioned under the name Agaricus djamor by Elias Magnus Fries in 1821, before he transferred the species to the genus Lentinus. It was transferred to the genus Pleurotus by Karel Bernard Boedijn in 1959.

Macroscopic characteristics
The pink oyster mushroom has a pink color, though there are also white forms. It has a fan-shaped, broadly convex to plane cap which is 2– 5 cm broad and 3-7 cm long, with an inrolled margin. The gills range from light pink to cream, and are 0.5-0.7 μm in width. The stem is white with matted hairs and is very short or non existent.

The flavor of the pink oyster mushroom has been described as meaty and fishy. Just like most mushrooms, it is quite umami. Its texture is both meaty and chewy. When fried until crispy, it resembles bacon or even ham. However, when it is raw, it has a sour taste.

The reason why it is very rare to find in supermarkets is that it has a shelf life of only about a day. Since it is only harvested from spring to fall, it is only available during that time.

Microscopic characteristics
The spore print is pink, and the spores are inamyloid and ellipsoid. They measure 7-8 ×3-4.5 μm.The basidia measure 24.93-25.26 x 6.7-7.4 μm and have 4 spores each. The sterigmata are 1.5-1.75 μm in size. Clamp connections are present.

Ecology and distribution
The pink oyster mushroom grows in tropical and subtropical areas, growing as far north as Japan and as far south as New Zealand. In Hawai'i, pink oyster mushrooms often grow on fallen coconuts, and on the stalks of palm fronds, though they can also be found on fallen ōhiʻa branches in the forests of the Hawaiian island Kaua'i.

Uses And Benefits
Pink oyster mushrooms are best suited for cooked applications such as sautéing, boiling, roasting, or frying. They can be sautéed or stir-fried with other vegetables, added to pasta dishes, sprinkled on top of pizza, added to grain bowls, sautéed with eggs, boiled in soups, chowders, or stews, or cooked into risotto. They can also be sautéed and mixed with cream-based white sauces for added flavor. Due to their meaty texture, these mushrooms require thorough cooking to develop their flavor and an edible consistency.

Pink oyster mushrooms are widely cultivated. They require less water spraying during fruiting than the Italian oyster. They also don't require as high a temperature as other oyster mushrooms, fruiting well at only 18-20°C. They can be cultivated on barley straw, sawdust, tea leaves and wheat straw. Pink oyster mushrooms contain high levels of vitamin C and potassium compared to other mushrooms. it also contains 74 percentage of Nutrition

Cultural significance
Pink oyster mushrooms are a commonly found specimen in central Mexican communities. It is the most well known mushroom in Tlayacapan, Morelos, with 98.8% of surveyed locals being able to identify it. The species is collected by families and then often sold at vendors markets. Locals call it a variety of names: "seta", "cazahuate", "orejón", "hongo de pino", "blanco", "oreja de cazahuate". Pink oyster mushrooms are also sold, door-to-door by mestizos in mountainous communities, such as San Lorenzo de Atzqueltán and Izolta.