# Hairy Oyster Mushroom (*panus lecomtei*) The Hairy Oyster Mushroom is a fuzzy fungus that grows on trees and logs! It looks like a little sea creature found on land and can be found in forests during the warm months. - **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 9 - **Habitat:** They live on decaying wood in forests and wooded areas. - **Also known as:** Fuzzy Oyster, Hairy Mushroom, Wood Mushroom ![Hairy Oyster Mushroom](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Panus_lecomtei_%28Fr.%29_Corner_730098.jpg&width=800) Photo: This image was created by user Liz Popich (Lizzie) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panus_lecomtei_%28Fr.%29_Corner_730098.jpg) ## Appearance The Hairy Oyster Mushroom is a small, kidney-shaped fungus with a tough, leathery texture. Its cap ranges from brownish to grayish and is covered in fine, dense hairs, especially when young. It typically grows without a visible stem, attaching directly to wood. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Fungi - **Phylum:** Basidiomycota - **Class:** Agaricomycetes - **Order:** Polyporales - **Family:** Panaceae - **Genus:** Panus ## Interesting facts - It's a master at recycling nutrients from fallen wood back into nature! - Its fuzzy surface isn't just for show, it's covered in tiny protective hairs! - The Hairy Oyster Mushroom can grow like shelves on dead tree trunks and branches! - This mushroom's tough texture helps it survive longer in humid, wet environments! ## Special abilities - **Wood Weaver:** Hairy Oyster Mushroom can break down tough dead wood because it helps recycle forest nutrients. - **Indigestible Shield:** Hairy Oyster Mushroom has a very tough texture that helps protect it from being eaten by many animals. - **Fuzzy Defense:** Hairy Oyster Mushroom has a hairy surface that may help it repel water or deter small pests. ## Measurements & details - **Edible:** inedible - **Size:** 2-8 cm - **Growth Substrate:** wood - **Season:** Year-round (wet seasons) - **Spore Color:** White ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Rubber Tree (*Hevea brasiliensis*) — Decomposes dead branches and logs. - **Eaten by:** Giant African Land Snail (*Achatina fulica*) — Large snails may graze its surface. - **Depends on:** [Teak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/teak) (*Tectona grandis*) — Helps recycle nutrients from dead wood. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hairy Oyster Mushroom? Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### Is Hairy Oyster Mushroom edible? inedible ### How big is Hairy Oyster Mushroom? 2-8 cm ### Where is Hairy Oyster Mushroom usually found? They live on decaying wood in forests and wooded areas. ### What does Hairy Oyster Mushroom grow on? wood ### When is Hairy Oyster Mushroom in season? Year-round (wet seasons) ### What color are Hairy Oyster Mushroom spores? White ## Where to spot - [Anderson University](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-university) — South Carolina, US · Campus - [Conestee Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conestee-nature-preserve) — South Carolina, US · Nature Reserve - [Savannah–Ogeechee Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/savannah-ogeechee-canal) — Georgia, US · Historic Site - [Augusta Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/augusta-canal) — Georgia, US · Historic Site - [Erskine College-Due West Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/erskine-college-due-west-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Murphey Candler Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/murphey-candler-park) — Georgia, US · Park [View all places to see Hairy Oyster Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hairy-oyster-mushroom) ## More Fungi - [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*) - [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*) --- Source: [Hairy Oyster Mushroom: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-oyster-mushroom)