Edible Shimeji mushrooms began appearing in North American grocery stores only a few years ago. They’re increasingly sought after for their gastronomic and medicinal qualities, as they have historically been in Japan. Actually, the Japanese name itself refers to a few different species. Take a deep breath and prepare to jump from Japanese to English to Latin and back working through the realm of common, Japanese and scientific nomenclature, as well as from traditional oriental cuisine through to your local supermarket.
Hon-shimeji (Lyophyllum shimeji) is a wild mushroom much valued in Japan. A symbiont of red pines and oaks, it is not cultivated and it is not available in North America