Shiitake
Scientific name: Lentinula edodes
Synonyms: Agaricus edodes, Shii-Take, Shaingugu, Hua Gu, Qua Gu, Chinese black mushroom, black forest mushroom
Natural habitat: Shiitake grows as a saprophyte on dead hardwood. He particularly prefers the Pasania-tree (Castanopsis cuspidata) and other asian oaks and beech trees.
Appropriate substrate: Hardwood (most suitable: oak, beech, birch, alder, chestnut, pasania)
Usage: Vital mushroom, edible mushroom
The Shiitake has originally been domiciled in Japan, Korea and China and his special characteristics are known by the population for more than 2000 years.
The smell of this special mushroom is very similar to garlic and is due to an ingredient called Lenthionine. Shiitake counts to the most popular gourmet-mushrooms in the world.
Taxonomy:
Division: Agaricomycetes
Class: Agaricomycetidae
Order: Agaricales
Family: Marasmiaceae
Genus: Lentinula
Spores: white, ovoid to ellipsoid, 5-6,5 x 3-3,5 µ