Family: Pleurotaceae
Pleurotaceae - family of fungi within order Agaricales.
Small family, separated in 1980 by French mycologist Robert Kühner, who united in it wood-decaying fungi with poorly differentiated fruit body, lamellar hymenophore and white spores. As of 2023 family includes 94 species in five genera.
Fruit bodies of small and medium, occasionally large sizes, pleurotoid (with semicircular in horizontal plane cap and eccentric short stem, sometimes lateral or absent altogether). Caps 1-8 (rarely up to 20) cm in diam., initially kidney-shaped, then fan-shaped, tongue-shaped or flat, dark-colored or light (white, gray, yellow), dry or slimy. Edge incurved or downturned, rarely - straightened or uplifted. Hymenophore lamellar. Gills decurrent on stem or adnate to it, light-colored: white, grayish, yellowish or brownish, often anastomosing. Spore print white. Stems eccentric or lateral, short (0.1 - 5 cm high) and thick relative to length, often rudimentary or absent. In few species ordinary central or slightly eccentric stems observed, usually narrowed toward base form. Universal veil always absent, partial - present in some species of genus Pleurotus, membranous type, leaving fragments along cap edges. Flesh developed, fleshy, light-colored, usually not changing color upon cutting.
Xylotrophs (wood-decaying fungi), predominantly saprotrophs, less frequently - parasites of living trees. Can develop on roots and buried dead wood. Part of species - predators, capturing and digesting microscopic nematode worms. Distributed worldwide, including steppe and desert zones.
Many species of Pleurotaceae edible, however valuable considered only some species of oyster mushrooms. Species Pleurotus ostreatus widely cultivated, in Russia occupies second place by volume of produced product after button mushrooms; less frequently other oyster mushroom species bred. Dangerous toxic species absent, there are only inedible due to tough flesh, bitter taste, unpleasant smell or small sizes. In some species biologically active compounds discovered.
