Pleurotus ostreatus
"P. eryngii" is the largest species in the oyster mushroom genus, "Pleurotus", which also contains the oyster mushroom "Pleurotus ostreatus". It has a thick, meaty white stem and a small tan cap (in young specimens). Its natural range extends from the Atlantic Ocean through the Mediterranean Basin and Central Europe into Western Asia and India. Unlike other species of "Pleurotus", which are primarily wood-decay fungi, the "P. eryngii" complex are also weak parasites on the roots of herbaceous plants, although they may also be cultured on organic wastes.