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In Japan, H. tessulatus is marketed under the
name of "Yamabiko Hon-shimeji" or just
"Hon-shimeji". In the United States, this species
is simply marketed under the name
"Shimeji". Adding to the confusion, the name
"Buna-shimeji" was first applied by Imazeki to
Lyophyllum ulmarius (= H. ulmarius) but now
is used in exclusive reference to Hypsizygus
marmoreus (= H. tessulatus). (See Nagasawa
&Arita, 1988.)
Description: Mushrooms hemispheric to
plane, spotted to marbled with "water-spots"
on the cap, measuring 2-7 cm. Cap margin
inrolled to incurved when young. Mushrooms
dark tan, becoming gray tawny brown to
creamy brown when mature. Gills bluntly attached
to the stem, close, firm, and "wax-like".
Stem thick, centrically or eccentrically attached,
often tapering towards the base, with
variable lengths depending on the method of
cultivation.
GROWTH PARAMETERS 249
Figure 220. Wild fruiting of H. tessulatus from cleft
in a cottonwood tree.
Distribution: Throughout the temperate hardwood forests of Europe, Asia and North America.
Natural Habitat: A saprophyte on elms, beech, cottonwoods, maple, willow, oak and other hardwoods. I
have found this mushroom arising from clefts in the of dying cottonwoods. Like many Oyster mushrooms,
this species can behave either as a facultative parasite on dying hardwoods or a true saprophyte on
dead trees. (The wild fruiting featured in Figure 215 is from a dying cottonwood).
Microscopic Features: Spores white, spherical to egg-shaped, relatively small, 4.0-6. 5 x 3.5-5. Op.
Clamp connections numerous. Hyphal system monomitic.
Available Strains: Strains are available from Japanese, American and Canadian culture libraries.
Strains range from white to grey to black and are typically darker when young and/or when grown
under cool conditions. Those who have patented strains of Hon-shimeji could be referring to H.
tessulatus, H. ulmarius or a Lyophyilum species, depending on the taxonomic system they were following.
Strains are easily cloned from wild specimens. DAOM #190991 is a light colored Canadian
strain, one of several strains featured in this book. (See Figure 223). Strains vary in their duration to
fruiting, in the color of the mushrooms at maturity and in their response to carbon dioxide levels.
Mycelial Characteristics: Mycelium white, cottony, resembling P. ostreatus mycelium but not as
aerial. Also, the mycelium of H. tessulatus does not exude the yellowish-orange metabolite nor does it
form the classically thick, peelable mycelium, two features that are characteristic of Pleurotus species.
Fragrance Signature: Sweet, rich, not anise-like, but oyster-esque, and pleasing.
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