Pleurotus ulmarius, also known as elm ear, elm mushroom, and elm fungus, is a species of white mushroom in the family Pleurotaceae. It is the fruiting body of Pleurotus ulmarius (Bull.ex Fr.) Quel., Pleurotus cornu-cop1ae (Paul.ex Pers) Roll., and Pleurotus spodo-lencus Fr. It is harvested in the summer and autumn, and after removing impurities, it is dried.
【Processing Method】Take the raw material, remove impurities, and cut into small pieces.
【Description】The elm ear is irregularly shaped. The cap of Pleurotus ulmarius is semi-spherical or flat, with a central orange-yellow color, wavy edges, light yellow color, and smooth surface. The gills are wide, relatively sparse, white or off-white. The stem is lateral, white or pale yellow, and covered with dense hairs. The cap of Pleurotus cornu-cop1ae is flat semi-spherical, fan-shaped or funnel-shaped, white, pale yellow, or light brown, with wavy edges, often cracked, and thin flesh. The gills are wide, off-white, and connected by veins. The stem is lateral or side-borne, off-white, smooth, or hairy at the base. The cap of Pleurotus spodo-lencus is round with a slight depression in the middle, yellow-white or yellow-brown, with a smooth surface and thick, white flesh. The gills are slightly wide or sparse, white. The stem is lateral or side-borne, white. The odor of the product is slight, and the taste is mild.
【Processing Function】The elm ear has a sweet and mild taste. It enters the spleen and large intestine meridians. It has the functions of nourishing and strengthening the body, and stopping diarrhea. It is commonly used for weakness, atrophy syndrome, dysentery, and pulmonary emphysema. For example, soaking the elm ear in liquor can treat weakness and atrophy syndrome (Chinese Medicinal Spore Plants); and the dried and finely ground elm ear can be taken internally to treat dysentery (National Compilation of Chinese Herbal Medicines). The purification and crushing of the processed product make the medicine pure and facilitate clinical use.
