Scaly Lentinus
Lentinus squarrosulus
Lentinus squarrosulus is a tropical mushroom that fruits at 29–32 °C and can be grown on palm press fibre with wheat bran, giving about 62% biological efficiency in a 2015 trial.
In a Nigerian trial, bags of palm press fibre, sawdust and wheat bran were wetted to 70% moisture, autoclaved at 121 °C for 1.5 hours, spawned and incubated at 28–30 °C in the dark. Once colonized they moved to a fruiting room at 29–32 °C with 70–85% humidity, and the top of each bag was cut open when pinheads appeared. The best formula, 85% palm press fibre, 13% wheat bran, 1% calcium carbonate and 1% sucrose, produced 206.5 g per kg of substrate and a biological efficiency of about 62% over two flushes in 28 days. The FAO manual lists a cultivation interval of 28–40 °C.
Cultivation parameters
Climate
| Colonization temperature | 28–30 °C |
|---|---|
| Overall cultivation temperature | 28–40 °C |
| Fruiting temperature | 29–32 °C |
| Fruiting humidity | 70–85% |
| Air / CO₂ notes | In a 2015 Nigerian trial bags were incubated at 28–30 °C in the dark, then moved to a fruiting room at 29–32 °C with 70–85% humidity. The FAO manual lists a cultivation interval of 28–40 °C. |
| Cold shock | Not required |
Timing & substrate
| Primary substrate | Palm press fibre with wheat bran |
|---|---|
| Substrate options | Palm press fibre, Mahogany sawdust, Gmelina sawdust, Wheat bran |
Spawn & substrate preparation
| Substrate moisture | 70% |
|---|
Practical literature-range
| Best methods | Autoclaved supplemented bags, top cut open at pinning |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Beginner — A tropical species that tolerates high heat and grows on palm-industry waste |
Taxonomy & ecology
| Scientific name | Lentinus squarrosulus |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Hed Khon Khao |
| Genus | Lentinus |
| Lifestyle | Saprotroph |
| Cultivation status | Commercially cultivated |
How to grow Scaly Lentinus, step by step
- Mix the substrate. Blend palm press fibre with wheat bran, calcium carbonate and sucrose, and wet it to about 70% moisture.
- Sterilize. Autoclave the bags at 121 °C for about 1.5 hours and cool below 30 °C.
- Spawn and incubate. Add grain spawn and incubate at 28–30 °C in the dark.
- Fruit. Move to a room at 29–32 °C with 70–85% humidity and cut the bag open when pinheads show.
- Harvest. Pick over about 28 days; the trial recorded two flushes.
Growing notes
Wheat bran changed timing: adding 8–18% to palm fibre formulas shortened the time to first harvest by an average of 17.7 days compared with mahogany sawdust. The result is from one location and one strain, so test on a small batch first.
Questions about growing Scaly Lentinus
What temperature does Lentinus squarrosulus need?
The trial incubated at 28–30 °C and fruited at 29–32 °C; the FAO manual gives 28–40 °C.
What substrate works best?
In the trial, 85% palm press fibre with 13% wheat bran, 1% calcium carbonate and 1% sucrose gave the highest yield.
How much does it yield?
The best formula gave 206.5 g per kg of substrate and a biological efficiency of about 62%.
What humidity does it need?
70–85% in the fruiting room in the trial.
Is it good for a cool climate?
No. It is a tropical species that prefers temperatures near 28–40 °C.