Synonyms: Lentinus sullivantii, Panus levis, Panus strigosus, Pleurotus levis, Pocillaria levis, Pocillaria sullivantii.
Common name: giant Panus.
Lentinus levis is a species of edible fungus that grows on deciduous trees, particularly oak and elm. In East and Central Texas, it typically fruits from April to October, with peak production in May and June. The cap is 3-8 cm in diameter, grayish-brown to tan, and often has a distinctive umbo. The gills are white to cream-colored and decurrent. It can be found growing singly or in small groups on stumps, logs, and living trees, particularly in wooded areas along streams and rivers.
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) or may be P. dryinus on a log in Wolf Pen Creek Park. College Station, Texas, November 19, 2017
Wolf Pen Creek Trail, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) or may be P. dryinus in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, December 15, 2017Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) or may be P. dryinus on Kiwanis Nature Trail. College Station, Texas, January 27, 2018Kiwanis Nature Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77843, United States
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) or may be P. dryinus in Bee Creek Park. College Station, Texas, February 15, 2018Anderson St, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) or may be P. dryinus in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, February 17, 2018Hensel Park DriveWay, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) or may be P. dryinus on rotten oak in Hensel Park. College Station, Texas, February 17, 2018Hensel Park DriveWay, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) or may be P. dryinus in bushes in Bee Creek Park. College Station, Texas, February 24, 2018Bee Creek, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) or may be P. dryinus in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 6, 2018Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) or may be P. dryinus on a half broken oak tree in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 20, 2018Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Lower view of giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) or may be P. dryinus on a half broken oak tree in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 20, 2018Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Group of giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) or may be P. dryinus on a half broken oak tree in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, July 20, 2018Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Gills of giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis)(?) on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Huntsville, Texas, September 15, 2018Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Huntsville, Texas, September 15, 2018Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Underside of giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) on Caney Creek section of Lone Star Hiking Trail in Sam Houston National Forest near Huntsville, Texas, September 15, 2018Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Young giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) or may be P. dryinus in Big Creek Scenic Area of Sam Houston National Forest. Shepherd, Texas, November 23, 2018Lone Star Hiking Trail, Coldspring, TX 77331, USA
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) on an oak log in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, February 3, 2019Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Gill attachment of a young giant panus mushroom (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) on a dry oak in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, February 20, 2019Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Cap texture of a giant panus mushroom (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) on a dry oak in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, February 20, 2019Raccoon Run, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, December 6, 2019Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Drying gills of a giant panus mushroom (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) taken from a dry oak at Lake Somerville Trailway near Birch Creek Unit of Somerville Lake State Park. Texas, June 14, 2020Lake Somerville Trailway, Somerville, TX 77879, USA
Emerging giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis) on white rotten wood of an oak on Little Lake Creek Loop Trail east from Trailhead No. 4 in Sam Houston National Forest, near Montgomery. Texas, January 2, 2021Pole Creek Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Cross section of young giant Panus mushroom (Lentinus levis) on white rotten wood of an oak on Little Lake Creek Loop Trail east from Trailhead No. 4 in Sam Houston National Forest, near Montgomery. Texas, January 2, 2021Pole Creek Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis, Pleurotus levis) on a fallen oak in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, February 10, 2021Iron Bridge Trail, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Mature giant panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis) eaten by insects on a mossy fallen oak on Lone Star Hiking Trail near Pole Creek in Sam Houston National Forest. Richards, Texas, August 20, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Decomposing giant panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis) on a mossy fallen oak on Lone Star Hiking Trail near Pole Creek in Sam Houston National Forest. Richards, Texas, August 20, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Mature giant panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis) together with plasmodium of slime mold on a mossy fallen oak in Lick Creek Park. College Station, Texas, August 20, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery, TX 77356, USA
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis) on an oak log under bamboo on Kiwanis Nature Trail. College Station, Texas, September 21, 20211114 Ashburn Ave, College Station, TX 77840, USA
Giant Panus mushroom (Lentinus levis) on an oak log on Kiwanis Nature Trail. College Station, Texas, December 14, 2021Kiwanis Nature Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77843, United States
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis) on a fallen oak on Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail north from Trailhead No. 6 in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, December 19, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Walker County, Texas, United States
Underside of giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis) on a fallen oak on Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail north from Trailhead No. 6 in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, December 19, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Walker County, Texas, United States
Gills of giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis) on Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail north from Trailhead No. 6 in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, December 19, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Walker County, Texas, United States
Close-up of giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis) on Stubblefield section of Lone Star hiking trail north from Trailhead No. 6 in Sam Houston National Forest. Texas, December 19, 2021Lone Star Hiking Trail, Walker County, Texas, United States
Gills of giant Panus mushroom (Lentinus levis) on Kiwanis Nature Trail at College Hills Elementary. College Station, Texas, April 1, 2022College Hills Elementary, Kiwanis Nature Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77843, United States
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis) on a fallen oak on Kiwanis Nature Trail at College Hills Elementary. College Station, Texas, April 1, 2022College Hills Elementary, Kiwanis Nature Trail, College Station, Brazos County, Texas, 77843, United States
Spores of mushroom Lentinus levis at low magnification, collected on Kiwanis Nature Trail a day before. College Station, Texas, April 2, 2022
Spores of mushroom Lentinus levis collected on Kiwanis Nature Trail a day before. College Station, Texas, April 2, 2022
Giant Panus mushrooms (Lentinus levis) on a log near Pole Creek on North Wilderness Trail of Little Lake Creek Wilderness in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, August 31, 2022Lone Star Hiking Trail, Montgomery County, Texas, United States
Spores of mushroom Lentinus levis collected near Pole Creek on North Wilderness Trail of Little Lake Creek Wilderness in Sam Houston National Forest north from Montgomery. Texas, August 31, 2022The fungus Lentinus levis was observed in East and Central Texas over a period of five years (2017-2022). The majority of sightings were in College Station, with frequent appearances in Lick Creek Park and Kiwanis Nature Trail. The mushroom was also found in Sam Houston National Forest, near Huntsville and Montgomery. Observations occurred throughout the year, with peaks in winter and fall. The fungus was typically found on oak logs, trees, or rotten wood. Some observations noted the presence of insects, slime mold, or decomposition. Spores were collected and examined under magnification. Overall, the observations suggest that Lentinus levis is a common species in the region, with a wide distribution and varied habitat preferences. The frequent sightings over several years provide valuable information on its ecology and behavior.
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