Introduction
The Pleurotus eryngii species-complex (Basidiomycota, Agaricales)
constitutes the only group of the genus Pleurotus whose
members are associated with plants of the family Apiaceae by
developing a facultatively biotrophic mode of growth
Basidiomes of
host/substrate-specific populations grow on plant roots or
lower parts of stems singly or in small groups from September
until June. The distribution range of this complex covers
a rather well-defined zone in the Old World ranging from Morocco
to the Netherlands in the west and extends to China
eastwards, comprising most parts of south-central Europe
and many regions of the Middle East and west Asia