Lentinus

Lentinus is a genus of fungi that has historically included several wood-decaying mushrooms. In contemporary classifications, many species once placed in Lentinus have been reassigned to other genera, and the boundaries of the genus have become more restricted. The best-known mushroom historically associated with Lentinus is the shiitake, now recognized as Lentinula edodes and widely cultivated for food.

Description and ecology: Members of Lentinus are typically saprotrophic, growing on dead hardwoods and other woody substrates. The fruit bodies are usually small to medium in size, with a cap and a stem; the underside can bear gills in many species, while others may show different hymenial arrangements. They tend to have tough, leathery to semifleshy textures, and morphological features vary among species.

Distribution and significance: Species formerly classified in Lentinus occur in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, with some instances in temperate zones. They contribute to wood decay and nutrient cycling as decomposers. Some species are collected or cultivated for food or traditional uses, though many culinary mushrooms associated with the shiitake lineage are currently placed in Lentinula.

Taxonomy and related genera: The genus sits within the broader group of basidiomycete mushrooms; a number of species that were once included in Lentinus have been moved to genera such as Lentinula. Taxonomic placement varies among sources, reflecting ongoing revisions in fungal systematics and the history of reclassification within this group.