Flat Crep (Crepidotus applanatus)


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	Flat Crep (Crepidotus applanatus) The Flat Crep (Crepidotus applanatus) looks at first glance like the Oyster Mushroom's little sister, and the two species even share the same scent. But the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms warns that "although none is known to be poisonous, [Flat Crep's] edibility is undetermined." I figured it was worth spending some time with this Oyster Mushroom look-a-like so that I don't feed us the wrong mushroom by mistake. Although Flat Creps can grow in clusters a bit like Oyster Mushrooms, the small size is your first hint that you haven't found the gourmet Oyster. Next, notice that Flat Creps completely lack stems, and that the caps are more of a flat, semi-circle than the half-vase-shape of an Oyster Mushroom. If you peer very closely at the point where the Flat Crep attaches to its stump or log, you'll notice that the mushroom has a mass of light brown hairs. After looking at all of those field marks, you should be able to tell the Flat Crep apart from the Oyster Mushroom. But if you're still in doubt, you can take a spore print --- Flat Crep has brown spores while Oyster Mushroom spores are white or pale gray. Escape the rat race with Microbusiness Independence. Want to be notified when new comments are posted on this page? Click on the RSS button after you add a comment to subscribe to the comment feed. Add a comment